1991 nsx online reference owner's manual …prelude.de/nsx/owner manual - 1991.pdf1991 nsx...

1991 NSX Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference. For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.

Contents

Owner's Identification Form Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... i A Few Words About Safety ................................................................................................................. ii

Driver and Passenger Safety ..............................................................................................................3Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System. Instruments and Controls ................................................................................................................. 19Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls. Comfort and Convenience Features ................................................................................................ 53How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features. Before Driving.................................................................................................................................... 89What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo. Driving .............................................................................................................................................. 103The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer. Maintenance ..................................................................................................................................... 119The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer. Appearance Care.............................................................................................................................. 167Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs. Taking Care of the Unexpected ...................................................................................................... 175This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them. Technical Information..................................................................................................................... 205ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information. Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ................................................................ 217A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact us. Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...................................................................................................... 221How to order manuals and other technical literature. Index...................................................................................................................................................... I

Gas Station InformationInformation you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Owner's Identification

This Owner's Manual should beconsidered a permanent part of thevehicle, and must remain with thevehicle at time of resale.

The information and specificationsincluded in this publication were ineffect at the time of approval forprinting. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.reserves the right, however, todiscontinue or change specificationsor design at any time without noticeand without incurring any obligationwhatever.

OWNER

ADDRESSSTREET

ZIPSTATECITY

V.I.N. CONTROL No.

DELIVERY DATE(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NAME

ADDRESSSTREET

CITY STATE ZIP

OWNER'S SIGNATURE

DEALER'S SIGNATURE

DEALER No.

Introduction

Congratulations on your selection of the Acura NSX. We are certain you will be pleased with your purchaseof one of the most sophisticated and technologically-advanced sports cars in the world.

The NSX contains the highest level of automotive technology currently available. Your aluminum-bodiedNSX was hand-crafted at a new facility dedicated exclusively to its manufacture. The staff at this factory hasmade every effort to produce the most thoroughly-tested and trouble-free exotic on the market. Acura'sgoal is to provide you, the discriminating sports car enthusiast, with the most comfortable, versatile exoticmid-engine car ever produced. As you spend time in your NSX, we're sure you'll agree.

You can enhance the enjoyment of your new car by taking the time to study this manual. In it, you willlearn about your car's many convenience and performance systems. We recommend that you follow thismanual's service and maintenance recommendations in order to preserve your investment.

Keep this owner's manual in your car so you can refer to it at any time. If you sell your car, make sure thismanual stays with it. The next owner will find it just as indispensable.

Several warranties protect your NSX. We suggest you read the warranty booklets in your owner's packetcarefully to fully understand the coverages and the responsibilities of ownership.

At the recommended maintenance intervals, keep in mind that your Acura dealer and his service staff arespecially-trained in the service, repair and maintenance of the many unique systems of the NSX. YourAcura dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer your questions and concerns.

Best wishes and happy motoringAcura DivisionAmerican Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Safety Messages

Your safety and the safety of others is very important. We have provided manyimportant safety messages in this manual and on the vehicle. Please read thesemessages 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 threewords, DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.These mean:

You WILL be KILLED orSERIOUSLY HURT if you don'tfollow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED orSERIOUSLY HURT if you don'tfollow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don'tfollow instructions.

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

You will also see another importantsymbol:

Your NSX or other property can bedamaged if you don't follow instruc-tions.

NOTICE

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you informationabout the safety-related labels onyour NSX. It also tells you how to usethe seat belts, and describes thebasic function of the SupplementalRestraint System or "airbag."

Safety Labels...................................... 4Seat Belts .......................................... 6

Wearing the Seat Belts ................ 6Seat Belt Inspection,Replacement, Cleaning................ 8

Child Restraint Systems .................. 9Tether Attachment .................... 11

Pregnancy........................................ 11Supplemental Restraint System .... 12

System Servicing........................ 14Alcohol and Drugs.......................... 15Carbon Monoxide Hazard ............ 16Reporting Safety Defects................ 17


Safety Labels

These labels are in the locationsshown. They warn you of potentialhazards that could cause seriouslyinjury. Read these labels carefullyand don't remove them.

If a label comes off or becomes hardto read, contact your Acura dealer fora replacement.FOLDING SPARE TIRE

BATTERY RADIATOR FAN

HEADLIGHT MOTOR

RADIATOR


Safety Labels


JUMP START

EXPANSION TANK CAP

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FAN

Seat Belts

The seat belts in your NSX aredesigned to help protect you in acollision. If you wear them properly,they can reduce your injuries andcould even save your life. It is the lawin many states, and all of Canada, thatyou wear your seat belt at all times.

Your car has seat belts at bothseating positions. These belts areone-piece lap/shoulder belts. Eachseat belt should be worn only by oneperson.

The seat belts are designed for adultsand larger children. Infants and smallchildren should ride in a proper childrestraint. See Child RestraintSystems (page 9) for more informa-tion.

Wearing the Seat BeltsFor your safety, position the seatbelts as directed. An improperly-positioned seat belt can worsen yourinjuries in a crash.

To fasten the driver's or passenger'sseat belt:

1. Make sure the doors are securelyclosed and locked.

2. Adjust the seat to a comfortable,but upright position. Sit straight upand well back in the seat. (Seepage 44)


A crash, sudden stop, oremergency maneuver cancause you to be seriouslyinjured or killed if you are notwearing your seat belt.

Be sure you and your passen-ger are both properly wearingyour seat belts.

Seat Belts

3. Pull the latch plate across yourhips and snap it into the nearestbuckle. Tug on the latch plate tomake sure it is securely locked.

4. Make sure the seat belt is nottwisted. Pull up on the shoulderbelt to remove any slack. Place theshoulder belt across your chestand over your collarbone, notunder your arm.

5. Position the lap portion acrossyour hips, not your abdomen.

CONTINUED


Seat Belts

The automatic retractors allow you tomove freely while keeping adequatetension on the seat belt. These retrac-tors will lock up fully during acollision or sudden stop. They willnot lock up if you just pull on the seatbelt suddenly while sitting still.

Do not install comfort clips, shoulderbelt pads, or any other commercially-available accessory on your car's seatbelts. These accessories reduce theeffectiveness of the seat belts,increasing your chance of injury. To unlatch the seat belt, push the red

PRESS button on the buckle. Theseat belt will retract out of your way.If it doesn't, pull it out and check fortwists or kinks in the belt.

Seat Belt Inspection,Replacement, Cleaning

InspectionThe condition of the seat belts isimportant to the safety of you andyour passenger. You should inspectthem regularly for frayed webbing,cuts, and wear. Check that the latchmechanisms work smoothly andcannot be pulled apart after theylatch.

ReplacementHave the seat belt replaced if:

The belt material is cut, punctured,frayed, burned, etc.

The buckle does not latch orrelease smoothly and easily, ordoes not stay latched.

The retractor does not workproperly.


Seat Belts, Child Restraint Systems

The seat belt was being wornduring a collision. This strains thefabric and the belt could fail inanother collision. When it isreplaced, also have the belt an-chors checked for any damage.

CleaningKeep the seat belts clean and dry. Adamp belt is uncomfortable, does notperform as well, and will not go inand out of the retractor as easily.

To clean the seat belts:

1. Pull the seat belts out of theirretractors so the areas you want toclean are fully exposed.

2. Use a soft brush to scrub themwith a mixture of mild soap andwarm water. Bleach, dye, andcleaning solvents can weaken theseat belt material.

3. Let them air-dry out of theirretractors with the windows open.

Child Restraint Systems

For safety, your child should alwaysbe restrained while riding in yourcar. This lessens the chance of injuryin an accident, sudden maneuver orstop. Infants and young children aretoo small to be fully protected byyour car's seat belts. They requirespecial child restraint systems. Allstates have laws requiring thatchildren ride in proper child re-straints. Check the laws in your state.


CONTINUED

Child Restraint Systems

Never hold an infant in your armswhile riding in the car. No matterhow light the baby feels, or howstrong you think you are, you maynot be able to hang onto the infant ina crash. If you are not wearing yourseat belt, you can crush the infantbetween your body and the car'sinterior. If you are wearing your seatbelt, you may reduce YOUR injuries

Never hold an infant in your armswhile riding in the car.

but the infant will fly out of your armsand strike the interior. A properly-installed child restraint system thatmeets Federal Motor Vehicle SafetyStandards (FMVSS) is the best pro-tection available.

When you are shopping for a childrestraint system, check the following:

The child restraint system con-forms to FMVSS-213. It should sayso on the box and seat.

The system fits your child. Eachchild restraint system has heightand weight restrictions listed onthe box or seat.

The system fits your car's seat andseat belts. All approved childrestraint systems are designed tobe secured in your car by the lapbelt or the lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt.

When you are using the child re-straint, make sure it is securedproperly. Follow the instructions thatcame with the child restraint system.A child restraint that is not properlysecured does not protect your childand can be dangerous. If you areunsure of how to secure the system,take it to your Acura dealer. He canassist you.

When you are not carrying your childin the restraint, remove it from thecar. If you leave it in, make sure therestraint is secured properly so itcannot fly around in the event of anaccident.


Child Restraint Systems, Pregnancy

Tether Attachment PointYour NSX is equipped with anattachment point for a child restraintsystem which uses a top tether. Thetether bracket and bolt are availableat your Acura dealer. The tetherattachment point is located on thepanel behind the passenger's seat-back.

1. Adjust the passenger seat fullyforward to make room behind theseat-back.

2. Using the dimensions shown,measure and mark the location ofthe attachment point on theinterior panel.

3. Use a razor blade or sharp knife tocarefully cut a 1 inch diametercircle at the point you marked. Cutthrough one layer at a time. Youwill need to remove two layers toreach the tether attachment.

4. Install the tether bracket and boltand tighten to: 16 lb.ft (22N.m)

Make sure to route the tetherthrough the space between theheadrest and seat.

PregnancyYou should always wear the lap/shoulder belt during pregnancy.Position the lap portion as low aspossible on the hips, not across yourabdomen.

Ask your doctor if you can drive, andabout the best way to position thelap/shoulder belt, each time you gofor a medical check-up.

Driver and Passenger Safely

Supplemental Restraint System

Your NSX is equipped with a Supple-mental Restraint System (SRS).This system consists of an airbag inthe center of the steering wheel and apadded knee bolster on the bottom ofthe dashboard. It is most effectivewhen used in conjunction with theseat belt.

The SRS is designed to activate if thecar is involved in a frontal collision atroad speeds. The airbag cushions thedriver's face and chest, while theknee bolster helps prevent the driverfrom sliding under the dashboardwhile helping to protect the driver'sknees. The SRS will not protect thedriver in a side impact, rear impact,or roll-over collision. The driver andpassenger should wear their seatbelts at all times for maximum pro-tection.

When the airbag deploys in a colli-sion, you may hear a fairly loud noiseand see some smoke. This is fromthe propellant charge that deploysthe airbag. It is normal and notharmful. The airbag is designed toinflate and deflate almost instantane-ously, so it cushions the driverduring impact but does not block thedriver's vision.


A crash, sudden stop, oremergency maneuver cancause you to be seriouslyinjured or killed if you are notwearing your seat belt.

Be sure you and your passen-ger are both properly wearingyour seat belts.


The SRS airbag is designed to beused only once. After it is activated,the airbag module must be replacedand the rest of the system checked.As a reminder, the SRS indicatorlight on the instrument panel willstay lit (see page 24). Only yourAcura dealer should perform thereplacement and checks.

The possibility that the SRS woulddeploy the airbag when there is nocollision is very small. If this shouldever happen, the bag will deflateimmediately and not interfere withyour ability to control the car.

The SRS sensors, control unit, air bagactivator and wiring are monitored atall times when the ignition is ON. If aproblem is detected, the SRS indica-tor will light. See page 24 for moreinformation.

Modifying system components, ortampering with any SRS wiring, couldmake the system inoperative orcause the airbag to deploy acciden-tally.

The system has sensors locatedbehind the dashboard and a controlunit in the center console. All wiringis bright yellow.

The installation of "custom" steeringwheels, additional trim materials, orbadges in the middle of the steeringwheel hub create a hazardouscondition and are not recommended.

CONTINUED



System ServicingTo ensure its reliability, the Supple-mental Restraint System must beinspected by your dealer no morethan ten years after the car's date ofmanufacture. This date can be foundon the certification plate attached tothe driver's door jamb.

The impact sensors for the SRS arelocated behind the dashboard andunder the center console. Wiring andother components are located nearthe steering column and in thesteering wheel.

None of the components in the SRSare user-serviceable. Doing mechani-cal or electrical work near SRScomponents, or disconnecting theSRS wiring, could cause the airbag todeploy accidentally or disable thesystem. If your car needs service orrepair in any of those areas, haveyour dealer do the work.

Scrapping the airbag, or the entirecar, without using the proper tools orfollowing the procedures in theService Manual can be hazardous.Scrapping the airbag should be doneby your dealer.


Alcohol and Drugs

Driving a car requires your fullattention and alertness. Trafficconditions change rapidly. You mustbe able to react just as rapidly.Alcohol or drugs directly affect youralertness and ability to react. Evenprescription and non-prescriptionmedicines can have this effect.

Every state has laws that deal withdrunken driving. These laws definehow much alcohol it takes in yoursystem to be legally "drunk." How-ever, your judgment and reactiontime decrease with every drink —even the first one.

The safest thing you can do is neverdrink and drive. This can be done ifyou plan ahead. If you know you aregoing to be drinking, make plans toride with a friend who will not bedrinking.

What if you find that you've beendrinking and cannot get a ride from afriend? Find alternative transporta-tion. Call a taxi. Take a bus. Manycommunities have transportationservices devoted to shuttling peoplewho have been drinking.

If you have no choice but to drive,stop drinking and give yourself lots oftime to sober up. Time is the onlything that can make you sober.Things like coffee or a cold showerdon't speed up the process.

If you see a friend trying to getbehind the wheel after drinking, stopthem. Drive them yourself or arrangeother transportation. If you think youare interfering, remember that yourinterference will keep them fromsharing the road with you.


Carbon Monoxide Hazard

Your car's exhaust contains carbonmonoxide gas. You should have noproblem with carbon monoxideentering the car in normal driving ifyou maintain your car properly. Havethe exhaust system inspected forleaks whenever:

The car is raised for an oil change.You notice a change in the sound ofthe exhaust.The car was in an accident thatmay have damaged the underside.

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

If you must sit in your parked car foreven a short time in an unconfinedarea with the engine running, adjustthe heating/cooling system asfollows:

1. Push the button.2. Select the mode.3. Turn the fan on high speed.4. Set the temperature control to a

comfortable setting.


Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.Breathing it can cause uncon-sciousness and even kill you.

Avoid any areas or actionsthat expose you to carbonmonoxide.

Reporting Safety Defects

If you believe that your vehicle has adefect which could cause a crash orcould cause injury or death, youshould immediately inform theNational Highway Traffic Safety Ad-ministration (NHTSA) in addition tonotifying American Honda MotorCompany, Inc.

If NHTSA receives similar com-plaints, it may open an investigation,and if it finds that a safety defectexists in a group of vehicles, it mayorder a recall and remedy campaign.However, NHTSA cannot becomeinvolved in individual problemsbetween you, your dealer, or Ameri-can Honda Motor Co., Inc.

To contact NHTSA, you may eithercall the Auto Safety Hotline tollfree at(800) 424-9393 (or 366-0123 in theWashington D.C. area) or write to:NHTSA, U.S. Department of Trans-portation, Washington, D.C. 20590.You can also obtain other informationabout motor vehicle safety from theHotline.


Instruments and Controls

This section gives information aboutthe controls and displays that contrib-ute to the daily operation of yourNSX. All the essential controls arewithin easy reach.

Component Locations.................... 20Control Locations .......................... 21Indicator Lights .............................. 22Gauges ............................................ 27

Speedometer .............................. 27Tachometer ................................ 27Oil Pressure Gauge.................... 27Temperature Gauge .................. 27Voltmeter.................................... 28Fuel Gauge ................................ 28Odometer.................................... 28Trip Meter .................................. 28

Steering Column Controls ............ 29Headlights .................................. 30Cruise Control Master Switch .. 31Turn Signals .............................. 32Windshield Wipers .................... 32Windshield Washers ................ 33Hazard Warning ........................ 34Rear Window Defogger ............ 34Steering Wheel Adjustments.... 35

Steering Wheel Controls .............. 36Cruise Control............................ 36Horn ............................................ 39

Keys and Locks .............................. 39Keys ............................................ 39Ignition Switch ......................... 40Power Door Locks ................... 41Trunk ......................................... 42Glove Box.................................... 43

Seat Adjustments............................ 44Power Windows.............................. 45Mirrors ........................................... 46Digital Clock ................................. 48Parking Brake ............................... 49Console Compartment .................. 49Vanity Mirror.................................. 49Cigarette Lighter............................ 50Ashtray ........................................... 50Interior Lights ............................... 51Courtesy Lights ............................. 51


Component Locations

HOOD

FRONT COMPARTMENT

FOLDING SPARE TIRE

ENGINE COVER

FUEL FILLER DOOR

TRUNK LID

TRUNK

TOOLS, JACK, AIR PUMP, PRESSURE GAUGE


REAR WINDOW

ENGINE COMPARTMENT

Control Locations


HEADLIGHTSWITCH (P. 30)

TURN SIGNALLEVER (P. 32)

WINDSHIELD WIPERCONTROLS (P. 32)

HAZARD WARNINGSWITCH (P. 34)

DIGITAL CLOCK (P. 48)

AUTOMATIC CLIMATECONTROL(P. 54)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P. 64)

SEAT ADJUSTMENT SWITCH (P. 44)SHIFT LOCK RELEASE (P. 111)(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ONLY)

FUEL FILLERDOOR RELEASE (P. 92)

TRUNK RELEASEBUTTON (P. 42)

MIRRORCONTROLS (P. 47)

POWER WINDOWSWITCH (P. 45)

DOOR LOCKSWITCH (P. 41)

HOOD RELEASEHANDLE (P. 97)

Indicator Lights

The instrument panel has manyindicators to give you importantinformation about your car.

Lamp CheckMany of the indicator lights come onwhen you turn the ignition switchON, allowing you to see that they areworking. The instrument panelshould look like the illustration. If anindicator does not light during thistest, it cannot alert you if that systemdevelops a problem. Have the dealercheck your car for burned-out bulbsor other problems.


Indicator Lights

Seat Belt ReminderLight

This indicator flashes for severalseconds when you turn the ignitionON. It flashes as a reminder to youand your passenger to fasten the seatbelts. A beeper also sounds while thislight is on if you have not fastenedyour seat belt. The beeper does notsound if your seat belt is fastened,but the reminder light comes on toremind you to check that yourpassenger is wearing the seat belt.

Low Oil Pressure LightThis indicator lights when the oilpressure in the engine drops lowenough to cause damage. It shouldlight when the ignition is ON and goout after the engine starts. If thislight comes on at any other time,there is a possibility of serious enginedamage. Safely pull to the side of theroad and shut off the engine as soonas you can.

Turn to page 194 for instructions andprecautions on checking the engine.

Charging System LightThis light indicates the battery is notbeing charged. It should come onwhen the ignition is ON, and go outafter the engine starts. If this lightcomes on while driving, the battery isnot being charged. Turn to page 195for information about what to do.

Parking Brake andBrake System Light

This light has two functions:

1. It lights as a reminder that youhave set the parking brake.Driving with the parking brake setcan damage the brakes and tires,and cause the Anti-lock brakingsystem to turn off (see page 113)

2. It can indicate the brake fluid levelis low if it remains lit after yourelease the parking brake orcomes on while driving. This isnormally due to worn brake pads.Have your dealer check thebraking system for worn pads orfluid leaks.

CONTINUED


Indicator Lights

Supplemental RestraintSystem Indicator

The SRS light normally comes on fora few seconds when you turn theignition ON. If it doesn't, or it stayson after the engine starts, somethingis wrong with the Supplemental Re-straint System. It may also flash onand off to indicate a problem.

If you see any of these indications,the airbag may not work whenneeded in an accident. Take the carto your dealer promptly for diagnosisand service.

Anti-lock Brake SystemIndicator

This light normally comes on whenyou turn the ignition ON and goes offafter the engine starts. If it comes onat any other time, there is a problemin the Anti-lock brake system. If thishappens, stop the car in a safe placeand turn off the engine. Reset thesystem by restarting the engine.

Watch the Anti-lock light. If it doesnot go off, or comes back on againwhile driving, take the car to yourdealer to have it checked. With thelight on, your car still has normalbraking ability but no anti-lock.

Check Engine lightAs a test, this light comes on for afew seconds when you turn theignition switch ON. If it comes on atany other time, one of the engine'semission control systems may have aproblem. Stop the car in a safe placeand turn off the engine. Restart theengine and watch the Check Enginelight. If it stays on, or comes on againwhile driving, have the car checkedby your dealer as soon as possible.Driving with this light on may not beharmful to your car, but the emis-sions levels may be higher thannormal.

Door and Lamp Monitor

The appropriate light comes on inthis display if the rear window, trunk,or either door is not closed tightly.

light comes on if either headlightdoor fails to completely open orclose. If a brake light does not work,the BRAKE LAMP indicator comeson when you push the brake pedalwith the ignition switch at ON.

A burned out brake light is a hazardwhen drivers behind you cannot tellyou are braking. Have your brakelights repaired right away.

All the lights in the monitor displaycome on for a few seconds when youturn the ignition switch ON.


Indicator Lights

Electric Power Steering(EPS) Indicator

(Automatic Transmission only)This light normally comes on whenyou turn the ignition ON and goes offafter the engine starts. If it comes onat any other time, there is a problemin the Electric Power Steeringsystem. If this happens, stop the carin a safe place and turn off theengine. Reset the system by restart-ing the engine, and watch the EPSlight. If it does not go off, or comesback on again while driving, take thecar to your dealer to have it checked.With the light on, the power steeringis turned off, making the car harderto steer.

Traction ControlSystem (TCS) Indicator

This light indicates that there is aproblem with the Traction Controlsystem. It also normally lights for afew seconds when you turn theignition ON. For more information onthe TCS, see page 114.

TCS Off IndicatorThis indicator is a reminder that youhave turned off the Traction ControlSystem. As a check, it also lights for afew seconds when you turn theignition ON. See page 114 for moreinformation on the TCS.

TCS Activation LightThis light flashes on when the Trac-tion Control System is regulating theengine. It will normally light for a fewseconds when you turn the ignitionON. See page 114 for more informa-tion on the TCS.

CONTINUED


Indicator Lights

Turn Signal andHazard WarningIndicators

The left or right turn signal lightsblink when you signal a lane changeor turn (see page 32). If the lightdoes not blink or blinks rapidly, itusually means one of the turn signalbulbs is burned out (see page 160).Replace it as soon as possible, sinceother drivers cannot see that you aresignaling.

When you turn on the Hazard Warn-ing switch, both turn signal lightsblink. All turn signals on the outsideof the car should flash.

High Beam IndicatorThis light comes on with the highbeam headlights. See page 30 forinformation on the headlight con-trols.

Cruise Control IndicatorThis lights when you set the cruisecontrol. See page 36 for informationon operating the cruise control.

Low fuel IndicatorThis light comes on as a reminderthat you must refuel soon.

Shift Lever Position Indicator(Automatic Transmission only)

An indicator in the tachometer showswhich shift position you are in.

If the "D" indicator light flasheswhile driving (in any shift position) itindicates a possible problem in thetransmission. Avoid rapid accelera-tion and have the transmissionchecked by an authorized Acuradealer as soon as possible.


Gauges

SpeedometerThis shows your speed in miles perhour. The smaller inner numbers arethe speed in kilometers per hour.

TachometerThe tachometer shows the enginespeed in revolutions per minute(RPM). To protect the engine fromdamage, never drive with the ta-chometer needle in the red zone.

Oil Pressure GaugeThis shows the engine's oil pressurein kilograms per square centimeter.This pressure varies with enginespeed and temperature. If the oilpressure falls low enough to causeengine damage, the Low Oil PressureLight comes on (see page 23).

Temperature GaugeThis shows the temperature of theengine's coolant. During normaloperation, the pointer should risefrom the bottom blue mark to aboutthe middle white mark. In severedriving conditions, such as very hotweather or a long period of uphilldriving, the pointer may rise to theupper white mark. If it reaches thered (Hot) mark, pull safely to the sideof the road. Turn to page 131 for in-structions and precautions on check-ing the engine's cooling system.

CONTINUED


Gauges

VoltmeterThis meter shows you the batteryvoltage when the ignition is ON. Aprolonged reading of lower than11 volts can indicate a problem withthe battery or charging system. Haveyour car inspected by your Acuradealer if such a problem occurs.

Fuel GaugeThe fuel gauge shows how muchgasoline you have. It is most accuratewhen the car is on level ground. Itmay show slightly more or less thanthe actual amount when you aredriving on curvy or hilly roads.

The gauge stays at the same fuellevel reading after you turn off theignition. When you add fuel, the

gauge slowly changes to the newreading after you turn the ignitionback ON.

OdometerThe odometer shows the totalnumber of miles your car has beendriven. It is illegal under federal lawto alter the odometer with the intentto change the number of milesindicated.

Trip MeterThis meter shows the number ofmiles driven since you last reset it.To reset it, push the trip meter resetbutton.


Steering Column Controls

The two pods on the steering columncontain controls for driving featuresyou use most often. The left pod hascontrols for the turn signals, head-lights, high beams, and the cruisecontrol master switch. The right podhas controls for the windshieldwipers, rear window defogger, andhazard lights. Underneath theinstrument panel are the headlightmotor switch, instrument panelbrightness control and the TCS On/Off switch.The two levers on the underside ofthe steering column allow you to tiltand telescope the steering wheel.



Headlights

The rotating switch on the left podcontrols the headlights. Turning this

position raises the headlightsand turns them on.

If you leave the lights on with theignition switch in Accessory or Lock,you will hear a reminder chime whenyou open the door.

To change between low beams andhigh beams, pull back on the turnsignal lever as far as it will movetowards you, then let go. The highbeam indicator will light (see page26).

To flash the high beams when theheadlight doors are closed, pull backand hold the turn signal lever. Thissimultaneously raises the headlightdoors and turns on the high beams.Release the lever and the high beamsgo off. Within a few seconds, theheadlight doors will close automati-cally.

The high beams will stay on for aslong as you hold the lever, no matterwhat position the headlight switch isin.


switch to the first position turnson the parking lights, tail lights, in-strument panel lights, side-markerlight, and rear license plate lights.Turning the switch to the second


Headlight Motor

To raise and lower the headlightdoors without turning them on, pushthe dashboard button behind the leftpod.

Instrument Panel Brightness

The knob on the dashboard behindthe left pod controls the brightness ofthe instrument panel lights. Push theknob to get it to pop out. Turn theknob to adjust the brightness, thenpush it back in so you cannot acci-dentally bump it.

Cruise Control Master Switch

The switch on the left pod is thecruise control master switch. Forinstruction on using the cruisecontrol (see page 36).

CONTINUED



Turn Signals

Signal a turn or lane change with thislever. Push down on the lever tosignal a left turn, and up to signal aright turn. If you push it up or downall the way, the turn signal continuesto blink even when you release thelever. It shuts off automatically asyou complete the turn.

To signal a lane change, push lightlyon the turn signal lever in the properdirection and hold it. The lever willreturn to the center position as soonas you release it.

Windshield Wipers

The lever on the right pod controlsthe windshield wipers and washers.The rotary switch at the end of thelever has three positions:INT — intermittentLO — low speedHI — high speed



In intermittent, the wipers operateevery few seconds. You can adjustthis delay by turning the INT TIMEring on the lever. This allows you tovary how often the windshield wiperssweep when driving in light rain orsnow. In low speed and high speed,the wipers run continuously.

To operate the wipers in mist mode,push the control lever down. Thewipers run at high speed until yourelease the lever. This gives you aquick way to clear the windshield.

Windshield Washers

To clean the windshield, pull back onthe wiper control. The washers sprayuntil you release the lever. Thewipers run at low speed while you'repulling the lever, then complete onemore sweep of the windshield afteryou release it.

CONTINUED



Hazard Warning

Push the large red button on theright pod to turn on the hazardwarning lights (four-way flashers).This causes all four outside turnsignals and both indicators in theinstrument panel to flash. Use thehazard warning lights if you need topark in a dangerous area near heavytraffic, or if your car is disabled.

Rear Window Defogger

The rear window defogger will clearfog, frost, and thin ice from thewindow. Push the defogger button toturn it on and off. The light on thefront of the pod lights to show thedefogger is on. If you do not turn itoff, the defogger will shut itself offafter about 25 minutes. It also shutsoff when you turn off the ignition.You have to turn it on again whenyou restart the car.

Make sure the rear window is clearand you have good visibility beforestarting to drive.

The defogger and antenna wires onthe inside of the rear window can beaccidentally damaged. When clean-ing the glass, always wipe side toside.



Steering Wheel AdjustmentsYou can adjust the steering wheelangle and distance to suit yourpreference. Do this before you begindriving.

After you have adjusted the steeringwheel, make sure you have securelylocked it in place by moving it in andout and up and down.

1. Adjust the seat so you are acomfortable distance from thepedals.

2. The lever to telescope the steeringwheel is under the steeringcolumn to the left. Push this leverall the way down.

3. Move the steering wheel in or outto the distance you want. Push thelever up firmly to lock the steeringwheel in that position.

4. The lever to tilt the wheel is underthe steering column in the middle.Pull this lever toward you and holdit.

5. Move the steering wheel up ordown to the desired position.Position the wheel so you can seethe instrument panel gauges andwarning lights. Release the lever.


Adjusting the steering wheelposition while driving maycause you to lose control ofthe car and be seriouslyinjured in a crash.

Adjust the steering wheelonly when the car is stopped.

Steering Wheel Controls

Cruise ControlCruise control allows you to maintaina set speed above 30 mph (48 km/hr)without keeping your foot on theaccelerator pedal. It is for cruising onstraight, open highways. It is not rec-ommended for conditions such ascity driving, winding roads, slipperyroads, heavy rain, or bad weather.You should have full control of thecar under those conditions.

The cruise control, as it operates,moves the accelerator pedal. You candamage your car's acceleratormechanism by resting your footunder the pedal and blocking themovement.

Using the Cruise Control

1. Push in the Cruise Control MasterSwitch on the left pod. The indica-tor on the front of the pod willlight.

2. Accelerate to the desired cruisingspeed above 30 mph (48 km/hr ) .


Improper use of the cruisecontrol can lead to a crash.

Use the cruise control onlywhen traveling on open high-ways in good weather.

NOTICE


3. Press and hold the SET/decelbutton on the steering wheel untilthe CRUISE CONTROL light onthe instrument panel comes on.This shows the system is nowactivated.

The set speed may vary slightly,particularly on hills.

Changing the Set SpeedYou can increase the set cruisingspeed in either of two ways:

Press and hold the RESUME/accelbutton. The car will accelerateslowly. When you reach thedesired cruising speed, release thebutton.

Push on the accelerator pedal.Accelerate to the desired cruisingspeed and press the SET/decelbutton.

You can decrease the set cruisingspeed in either of two ways:

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

Tap the brake or clutch pedallightly with your foot. The CRUISECONTROL light on the instrumentpanel will go out. When the carslows to the desired speed, pressthe SET/decel button. The car willthen maintain the desired speed.

CONTINUED



Even with the cruise control turnedon, you can still use the acceleratorpedal to speed up for passing. Aftercompleting the pass, take your footoff the accelerator pedal. The car willreturn to the set cruising speed.Resting your foot on the brake orclutch pedal will cause the cruisecontrol to cancel.

Turning off the Cruise ControlEither of these actions take the carout of cruise control:

Tap the brake or, if manual trans-mission, clutch pedal.

Press the Cruise Control MasterSwitch.

When you tap the brake or clutchpedal, the CRUISE CONTROL lighton the instrument panel will go outand the car will begin to slow down.You can use the accelerator pedal inthe normal way. The system retainsthe previously-set cruising speed. Toreturn to that speed, accelerate toabove 30 mph (48 km/hr) and thenpress the RESUME/accel buttonuntil the CRUISE CONTROL lightcomes on. The car will accelerate tothe same cruising speed as before.

Pressing the Cruise Control MasterSwitch turns the system completelyoff. This erases the previous cruisingspeed from memory. To use thesystem again, you must set thesystem up as explained in Using theCruise Control.


Steering Wheel Controls, Keys and Locks

Horn

Press either of the buttons on thesteering wheel spokes to sound thehorn.

Keys

Your car comes with two kinds ofkeys: a master key and a valet key.The master key fits all four locks onyour car:

IgnitionDoorsTrunkGlove box

The valet key only works the ignitionand the door locks. You can keep thetrunk and glove box locked when youleave your car and valet key at aparking facility. (See Trunk, page42.)

Each key has a number stamped inone side. You will need this number ifyou have to get a lost key replaced.Record this number and keep it in asafe place.

CONTINUED


Keys and Locks

Ignition Switch

The ignition switch is on the rightside of the steering column. It hasfour positions: Lock (0), Accessory(I), ON (II), and Start (III).

Lock (0) — You can insert or removethe key only in this position. Whenyou turn the key from Lock toAccessory, you may have to turn thesteering wheel to release the anti-theft lock. To switch from Accessoryto Lock, you must push the key inslightly as you turn it. If your car hasan automatic transmission, it mustalso be in Park. The anti-theft lockwill lock the steering column whenyou remove the key.

Accessory (I) — In this position, youcan operate the audio system andcigarette lighter.

On (II) — This is the normal keyposition when driving. All featuresand accessories on the car areusable. Several of the lights on theinstrument panel come on as a testwhen you turn the ignition switchfrom Accessory to ON (see page 22).

Start ( I l l ) — Use this position only tostart the engine. The switch returnsto ON when you let go of the key.

You will hear a reminder beeper ifyou open the door with the key in theLock or Accessory position. Removethe key to turn it off.


Removing the key from theignition switch while drivinglocks the steering. This cancause you to lose control.

Remove the key from theignition switch only whenparked.

Keys and Locks

Power Door Locks

Each door has a door lock switch.Either switch locks both doors. PushLOCK to lock both doors, and the topportion of the switch to unlock them.

Each door also has a lock tab on thetop. When you push down the locktab on the driver's door, both doorslock. The lock tab on the passenger'sdoor only locks that door. To get outof the car, pull each lock tab up oruse the door lock switch before youopen either door.

The doors can be locked and un-locked from the outside with the key.Both doors lock when you use thekey to lock the driver's door.

To lock the door without the key,push the lock tab down and close thedoor.

CONTINUED


Keys and Locks

Lockout PreventionLockout Prevention keeps you fromlocking the driver's door with thekey in the ignition. If you try to lockthe driver's door by pushing downthe lock tab, the tab immediatelypops back up. As further protection,the door lock switch will not lock thedoor when the driver's door is openand the key is in the ignition.

You may accidentally override theLockout Prevention feature. If youpush the lock tab down again after ithas popped up, then continue to holdthe door handle out for severalseconds after closing the driver'sdoor, the locks cycle several times.This may lock both doors.

Trunk

You can open the trunk in two ways:

Press the trunk release button onthe driver's door.

Use the master key in the trunklock. The valet key does not workin this lock.

To close the trunk, press down onthe trunk lid. Do not press down onthe rear spoiler as you may damageit.

See page 101 for loading cargo andweight limit information. Keep thetrunk lid closed at all times whiledriving to avoid damaging it.


Keys and Locks

To protect items in the trunk whensomeone is using your car:

1. Disable the trunk release buttonby turning off the trunk mainswitch in the glove box.

2. Lock the glove box with themaster key.

3. Give the person the valet key.

Glove Box

Open the glove box by squeezing thehandle. Close it with a firm push.Lock or unlock the glove box withthe master key.

The glove box light comes on onlywhen the instrument panel lights areon.


An open glove box can causeserious injury to your passen-ger in a crash, even if he iswearing the seat belt.

Always keep the glove boxclosed while driving.

Seat Adjustments

The power seats in your car areadjusted with the two switches on theoutside of the seat bottom.

Push the front switch forward orbackward to adjust the distance tothe steering wheel and pedals.

Adjust the seat-back angle by push-ing the rear switch in the directionyou want to move.

You can adjust the seats with theignition switch in any position. Adjustthe seat position before you startdriving.


Reclining the seat-back candecrease the protection youget from your seat belt in acrash.

You can slide under the seatbelt and be seriously injured.

Adjust the seat-back to anupright position and sit wellback in the seat.

Power Windows

Your car's windows are electrically-powered. They operate when theignition switch is ON, and for a shortperiod of time after you turn theignition OFF.

The driver's armrest has a masterpower window control panel. To openthe passenger's window, push downon the switch and hold it down untilthe window reaches the desiredposition. To close the window, pushup on the window switch. Release theswitch when the window gets to theposition you want.

The master control panel also con-tains these extra features:

AUTO — To open the driver's windowfully, push the window switch firmlydown and release it. The windowautomatically goes all the way down.To stop the window from going allthe way down, push the windowswitch up briefly. To open thedriver's window only partially, pushthe window switch down lightly andhold it. The window will stop as soonas you release the switch.

The AUTO function only works tolower the driver's window. To raisethe window, you must push thewindow switch up and hold it untilthe window reaches the desired posi-tion.

CONTINUED


Power Windows, Mirrors

MAIN — This switch controls power tothe passenger's window. With thisswitch OFF, the passenger's windowcannot be raised or lowered. TheMAIN switch does not affect thedriver's window. Keep the MAINswitch OFF when you have a child inthe car so he does not injure himselfby operating the window unintention-ally.

The power window system has a key-off delay function. The windows willstill operate for up to ten minutesafter you turn off the ignition. Open-ing either door cancels the delayfunction. You must turn the ignitionON again before you can raise orlower the windows.

Mirrors

Keep the inside and outside mirrorsclean and adjusted for best visibility.Be sure to adjust the mirrors beforeyou start driving.

The inside mirror has day and nightpositions. The night position reducesglare from headlights behind you.Flip the tab on the bottom edge of themirror to select the day or nightposition.


Closing a power window on achild's hands or fingers cancause serious injury.

Make sure your child is awayfrom the window beforeclosing it.

Mirrors

The outside mirror on the passen-ger's side has curved glass. Objectslook farther away than they are. Usethis mirror to get a "wide view."Don't use it to judge the distance ofthings behind you.

Adjusting the Power Mirrors

Adjust the outside mirrors with theadjustment switch on the driver'sdoor armrest:

1. Turn the ignition switch ON.

2. Move the selector switch to L(driver's side) or R (passenger'sside).

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

4. When you finish, move the selec-tor switch to the center (off)position. This turns off the adjust-ment switch so you can't move amirror out of position by acciden-tally bumping the switch.


Digital Clock

The digital clock displays the timewith the ignition switch ON. To seethe time with the ignition off, pressand hold the DISPLAY button.

To set the clock:

1. Turn the ignition switch ON todisplay the time.

2. Raise the lid to the left of the clockdisplay. You will see HOUR, MIN.,and RESET buttons.

3. Press and hold the HOUR buttonuntil the hour advances to thedesired time.

4. Press and hold the MIN buttonuntil the numbers advance to thedesired time.

You can use the RESET button toquickly set the time to the nearesthour. If the displayed time is beforethe half hour, pressing RESET setsthe clock back to the previous hour.If the displayed time is after the halfhour, pressing RESET sets the clockforward to the beginning of the nexthour. For example:

1:06 would RESET backward to1:00.

1:52 would RESET forward to 2:00.


Parking Brake, Console Compartment, Vanity Mirror

Parking Brake

To apply the parking brake, pull thelever up fully. To release it, pull upslightly, push the button, and lowerthe lever. The parking brake light onthe instrument panel should go outwhen the parking brake is fullyreleased (see page 23). If you try todrive the car without releasing theparking brake, the Anti-lock brakesystem cannot work properly, andthe rear brakes can be damaged.

Console Compartment

To open the console compartment,lift the left edge.

Vanity Mirror

Pull down the passenger side sunvi-sor to use the vanity mirror.


Cigarette Lighter, Ashtray

Cigarette Lighter

The ignition switch must be inAccessory or ON for the cigarettelighter to work. To heat up thelighter, push it in. It will pop outwhen it is ready for use. Do not holdthe lighter in while it is heating up,you could cause it to overheat.

Ashtray

Open the ashtray by lifting the lid up.To close the ashtray, push the liddown. To remove it for emptying, liftthe lid up to the open position, andpush it up further. The ashtray willpop out slightly so you can grasp itand pull it all the way out. After emp-tying, push it all the way back in.

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


NOTICE

Interior Lights, Courtesy Lights

Interior Lights

The interior light, on the ceilingbetween the sun visors, has a three-position switch. With the switch inthe OFF position (far left), the lightwill not come on. In the centerposition, the interior light comes onwhen you open either door. In theON position (far right), the interiorlight is on all the time.

When the three position switch is atthe center position with both doorsclosed, the two bulbs in the interiorlight can be turned on separately bythe pushbutton switches next tothem. Push the switch to turn thelight on or off.

Courtesy Lights

When you open the driver's door,lights for the driver's footwell and theignition switch turn on to assist you.These lights stay on for a few sec-onds after you close the door.

Each door has a light near the backedge. This light comes on wheneverthe door is open.


Comfort and Convenience Features

Your car has several features to makedriving more comfortable.

The Automatic Climate Controlsystem in your NSX provides acomfortable driving environment inall weather conditions.

The audio sound system is veryversatile. To get the most from thissystem, take the time to learn whatthe controls do.

The security system helps to discour-age vandalism and theft of your NSX.

Automatic Climate Control............ 54Fully-automatic Operation ...... 55Semi-automatic Operation ...... 57

Air Conditioner ON and OFFButton.................................. 57Mode button ...................... 58Recirculated and Fresh Air 62Fan Speed............................ 62

Temperature Sensors.............. 63

Audio System .................................. 64Operating the Radio ................ 64Finding Radio Stations ............ 65Radio Frequencies .................. 68Adjusting the Sound ................ 68Operating the CassettePlayer ........................................ 69Tape Search Functions............ 73Caring for the CassettePlayer ........................................ 77Operating the CD Player ........ 79Error Indications...................... 85

Security System .............................. 86


Automatic Climate Control

The automatic climate control systemin your NSX picks the proper combi-nation of air conditioning, heating,and ventilation to maintain theinterior temperature you select. Thesystem also adjusts the fan speed andair flow direction.

The direction of air flow from thevents in the center of the dashboardis adjustable. Move the tab in thecenter of each vent up-and-down andside-to side. The vents on top of eachdoor and in each armrest can beopened and closed by the dial next toeach vent.

The climate control system drawsair through the exterior ventsat the bottom of the windshield.Keep these vents clear of leaves andother debris.

For the climate control system toprovide heating and cooling, theengine must be running.

CENTER VENTS


DOOR VENTS


Fully-automatic OperationTo put the Automatic Climate Controlin fully-automatic mode. Press theAUTO button, set the desired tem-perature by turning the temperaturecontrol dial and turn the fan speeddial to AUTO. You will see FULLAUTO in the system's display. Thelight in either the or buttonalso goes on to show you which is se-lected.

CONTINUED


SELECTED TEMPERATURE

TEMPERATURECONTROL DIAL

FULLY-AUTOMATICOPERATION

FAN SPEEDDIAL

To turn climatecontrol on

FRESH AIR

RECIRCULATED AIR


To heat or cool the interior faster,rotate the temperature control dial toits lower limit (60°F) or upper limit(90°F). The system then runs con-tinuously at maximum cooling orheating. When the dial is set any-where else within its range (61°F to89°F), the system regulates theinterior temperature to that value.

In cold weather, the fan will not comeon automatically until the engine hasrun for a short time and the heaterstarts to develop warm air.

Pressing the OFF button shuts theclimate control system completelyoff. Keep the system completely offonly for short periods. To keep staleair and mustiness from collecting,you should have the fan running at alltimes.



To turn system off


Semi-automatic OperationYou can manually select variousfunctions of the Climate Controlsystem when it is in FULL AUTO. Allother features remain automaticallycontrolled. Making any manualselection causes the word FULL togo out.

Air conditioner ON and OFF ButtonPressing the A/C button turns the airconditioner on and off. You will seeON or OFF in the display. When youturn the A/C off, the system cannotregulate the inside temperature if youset the dial below the outside airtemperature. With the A/C on, usethe temperature control dial to adjustthe temperature of the air flow to acomfortable setting.

CONTINUED



AIR CONDITIONERON/OFF DISPLAY

AIR CONDITIONERON/OFF BUTTON


Mode ButtonUse the MODE button to select thedirection of air flow coming out of thesystem: Each time you press theMODE button the display shows themode selected. Press the button fourtimes to see all the modes.

—The main air flow comes outof the dashboard and door vents.Close the door vents when using theair conditioner or the windows mayfog up.

Comfort ahnd Convenience Features

To manually selectair flow direction


— The main air flow is dividedbetween the dashboard/door ventsand the floor vents.

— The main air flow is directedto the floor vents.

CONTINUED



— The main air flow is dividedbetween the floor vents and wind-shield defroster vents.



The button directs the main airflow to the windshield for faster de-frosting. It also overrides any MODEselection you may have made. Todefrost more quickly, turn the tem-perature control to 82°F-86°F.Press and turn the fan speeddial to high. To turn off defrost, pressthe AUTO or DEFROST button.

If there is frost on the windows, firstselect the position. If thewindows are fogged, select theposition. Warmed air will then flowfrom the windshield and side de-froster vents.

CONTINUED


DEFROSTBUTTON


Recirculated and Fresh Air

The and buttons select thesource of air going into the climatecontrol system. draws fresh airfrom outside. draws air into thesystem from the car's interior andrecirculates it. You can, for example,manually put the system in recircula-tion mode when driving through anarea of smoke or fumes. When youpress the or button, thelight in that button comes on.

Fan SpeedYou can manually select the fanspeed by turning the dial. You mustturn the fan speed dial back to AUTOto go to fully-automatic climatecontrol.


RECIRCULATEDAIR

FAN SPEED

FRESH AIR


Temperature SensorsThe climate control system hastemperature sensors located on thedashboard and in the center console.Do not cover these sensors or spillany liquid near them.


TEMPERATURE SENSOR

Audio System

The sound system in your NSX candeliver excellent reception on boththe AM and FM bands. The cassetteplayer uses Dolby B* noise reductionto give the best sound.

*Dolby noise reduction manufacturedunder license from Dolby LaboratoriesLicensing Corporation. "Dolby and thesymbol are trademarks of Dolby Laborato-ries Licensing Corporation.

Operating The RadioTurn the radio on by pressing theON/OFF button. The radio will comeon and display the frequency of thelast station it was tuned to. Thepower antenna will also extend.Adjust the volume with the VOL dial(outside ring of the left knob).


ON/OFFBUTTON

VOLUMEDIAL

Audio System

Select the AM or FM band by push-ing the AM/FM button. The selectedband is shown next to the frequencydisplay.

Finding Radio StationsTo tune to a station, turn the TUNEdial (outside ring of the right knob).Turn it clockwise to tune to a higherfrequency, and counterclockwise totune to a lower frequency. TheSTEREO indicator next to the fre-quency display lights if the station isbroadcasting in FM stereo. TheSTEREO indicator will flash if youare driving in an area where the radiosignal is weak. This system cannotreceive AM broadcasts in stereo. CONTINUED


BANDDISPLAY

AM/FMBUTTON

TUNEDIAL

STEREOINDICATOR

Audio System

The easiest way to find your favoritestations is to set their frequenciesinto the eight preset buttons. To dothis, tune to the desired station asdescribed previously. Press one ofthe preset buttons (1—8) and hold ituntil you hear a beep. You can preseteight stations on each band.

When you press the SEEK bar, theradio scans the selected band andstops on the next station with astrong signal. Press the left side ofthe SEEK bar to scan lower frequen-cies, and the right side of the bar toscan higher frequencies. This helpsyou locate stations when drivingoutside your normal reception area.


PRESET BUTTONS

PRESET BUTTONSTUNE DIAL

SEEK BARUPDOWN

Audio System

The A. SELECT function allows youto find stations easily when you are inan unfamiliar area. Press the A.SELECT button. The system auto-matically scans both the AM and FMbands, memorizes the eight strong-est stations on each band, and storesthem in the eight preset buttons. Youcan then use the buttons to tune tothose stations. The light in the A.SELECT button stays on as a re-minder. You cannot manually changeany presets with A. SELECT on.

A. SELECT does not erase thestations you have manually preset.Turn off A SELECT when you returnto your normal reception area bypressing the button again. The lightin the button goes out and the presetbuttons can then select the stationsyou originally set.

PRESET BUTTONSA. SELECT BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS

CONTINUED


Audio System

Radio FrequenciesYour Acura's radio can tune in allfrequencies in both the AM and FMbands. Those bands cover thesefrequencies:

AM band: 530 kilohertz to1710 kilohertz

FM band: 87.7 megahertz to 107.9megahertz

Radio stations on the AM band areassigned frequencies at least 10kilohertz apart (530, 540, 550). Thoseon the FM band are assigned fre-quencies at least 0.2 megahertz apart(87.9, 88.1, 88.3).

Stations must use these exact fre-quencies. It is fairly common forstations to round-off the frequency intheir advertising, so your radio willshow a frequency of 100.9 eventhough the announcer may call thestation "FM 101."


Adjusting The SoundUse the TREE and BASS knobs toadjust the tone quality to your liking.Push on the TREE knob to get bothto pop out. The outside ring changesthe bass level, and the inner knobchanges the treble level.

When you have finished the adjust-ments, push the knobs back in sothere is less chance of accidentallychanging your settings.

The BAL control adjusts the soundbalance between the speakers. Pushon the knob so it pops out. Adjust theside-to-side balance as desired, thenpush the knob back in.

When the headlights are on, theradio panel illumination is on, even ifthe radio is turned off. The panellighting can be turned off by firstpushing the BAL control knob so itpops out, then pulling it out slightlyfarther.

Audio System

Operating the Cassette PlayerMake sure the radio is ON. Insert thecassette with the tape opening to theright. Push the cassette most of theway into the slot. It will be pulled inthe rest of the way and begin to play.The display will change from theradio frequency to the word TAPE.An arrow in the display shows thedirection of tape movement.

means the side you inserted facingupward is now playing. To changeprograms, press the PROG button(7). The tape direction reverses.

The player automatically reversesdirection at the end of a tape.


CONTINUED

Audio System

Dolby® noise reduction turns onautomatically when you insert acassette. If the cassette was notrecorded in Dolby, turn it off bypressing If you play a metal(CrO2) tape, the system automaticallysenses it. The METAL indicator inthe frequency display lights.

DOLBY NR ON

DOLBY NR ON/OFF

METAL TAPEINDICATOR


Audio System

To remove the cassette, press thebutton. The player automaticallyejects the cassette when you turn theignition or radio off.

CONTINUED


EJECT BUTTON

Audio System

When the system is playing a cas-sette, you can use the preset buttonsto control tape movement. Pressto fast forward the tape. Press torewind the tape. To stop fast forwardor rewind, press PLAY. Fast forwardor rewind stops automatically when itreaches the end of the tape. Thesystem then goes into play.

REWIND FAST FOWARD


PLAY

Audio System

Tape Search FunctionsThe REPEAT function plays thecurrent song or passage over again.Press REPEAT to enable it. The lightin the button stays lit to remind you.When the system senses a silentperiod in the program (such as theend of a song), it rewinds the tape tothe previous silent period. It contin-ues to repeat this same passage aslong as REPEAT is on.

To turn it off, press the button again.Pressing or also turns offREPEAT.

REPEATBUTTON

REWIND FAST FOWARD

CONTINUED


Audio System

The function is similar to RE-PEAT. When you press this button,the system immediately goes intorewind. The light in the REPLAYbutton flashes during rewind. Whenit senses a silent period on the tape,the system stops rewinding and goesback to PLAY. Unlike REPEAT, thisfunction replays a selection onlyonce. If you do not press again,the tape will play straight through.

REPLAYBUTTON


Audio System

The function allows you to skipover a song or other passage. Whenyou press this button, the systemgoes into fast forward until it senses asilent period on the tape. The light inthe SKIP button flashes during fastforward. When the system finds asilent period, it goes back to PLAY.

SKIP BUTTON

CONTINUED


Audio System

SCAN allows you to search a tape fora desired passage. When you pressthis button, the system goes into fastforward. It goes back to PLAY whenit senses a silent period on the tape.It stays in PLAY for eight seconds soyou can listen to that passage anddecide if you want to hear it all. If youare not interested in that passage,leave the system alone. After eightseconds, it will go into fast forwardagain until it senses another silentpassage, then go back to PLAY.

When it gets to a passage you want tohear, press SCAN again. The tapeplays normally after that.

SCANBUTTON


Audio System

The and SCAN functionsuse silent periods on the tape to findthe end of a selection. These featuresmay not work satisfactorily on tapesthat have almost no gap betweensongs, a high noise level betweensongs, or silent periods in the middleof songs.

Caring for the Cassette Player

The cassette drive picks up dirt andoxides whenever you play a tape.This builds up over time and causesthe sound quality to degrade. Toprevent this, you should clean thecassette drive after every 30 hours ofuse. Your dealer has a cleaning kitavailable for this purpose.

After 50 hours of use, the CLEANlight comes on to remind you to cleanthe cassette drive. After cleaning thedrive, turn off the CLEAN light bypushing it in with the tip of a ball-point pen or similar object.

If you do not clean the cassette driveregularly, it may eventually becomeimpossible to remove the depositswith a normal cleaning kit.

Use 100 minute or shorter cassettes.Cassettes longer than 100 minutesuse thinner tape that may break orjam the drive.

CONTINUED


CLEANLIGHT

Audio System

Look at a cassette before you insertit. If the tape is loose, tighten it byturning one of the hubs with a pencilor your finger. If the label is peelingoff, do not put it in the player. It maycause the cassette to jam in the drivemechanism when you try to eject it.

Do not leave cassettes sitting wherethey are exposed to high heat orhumidity, such as on top of thedashboard or in the player. If a cas-sette is exposed to extreme heat orcold, let it reach a moderate tempera-ture before putting it in the player.


Audio System

Operating the CD Player(Optional)A trunk-mounted Compact Discchanger is available for your car. Itholds up to six discs, providingseveral hours of continuous program-ming. You operate the CD changerwith the same controls used for theradio and cassette player.

Load the desired CDs in the maga-zine and load the magazine in thechanger according to the instructionsincluded with the unit. Turn on theaudio system as described previ-ously. Press the AM/FM button until"CD" appears in the display. Theselected disc (1—6) and track, also dis-played, will begin playing. When thatdisc ends, the next is loaded andplayed. When disc 6 is completed,the system returns to disc 1.

DISCNUMBER

To startCD play

CONTINUED


TRACKNUMBER

Audio System

To select another disc, press PROG.The next CD in the player is loadedand starts to play from the first track.The new CD and track numbers aredisplayed.

To return to the radio, press AM/FMagain. To turn the system completelyoff, press the ON/OFF button.

Press tochange discs


Audio System

You can use the preset buttons whilea CD is playing to select passagesand change tracks.

To move rapidly within a track, pressand hold the button to moveforward or the button to movebackward. The player will fastforward or reverse for as long as youhold the button. It goes to normalplay mode when you release thebutton.

Each time you press thesystem skips forward to the begin-ning of the next track on that CD.Pressing skips backward to thebeginning of the current track.

SKIPBACKWARD

SKIPFORWARD

REVERSE FASTFORWARD

CONTINUED


Audio System

To replay the current track, pressREPEAT. The indicator in the presetbutton will come on as a reminder. Atthe end of the track, the system skipsback to its beginning. That track willrepeat continuously until you cancelREPEAT by pressing the buttonagain.

To repeata track


Audio System

To search for a particular program ona disc, press SCAN. The system willskip forward to the next track andbegin to play it. If you do not touchany of the controls, the system skipsto the beginning of the next trackafter ten seconds and begins to playthat. When the system gets to a trackyou want to hear all the way through,press SCAN again. You can only scantracks on the disc currently beingplayed.

SCANON/OFF

CONTINUED


Audio System

You can get the CD player to ran-domly select tracks by pressing A.SELECT. The indicator in the buttonlights as a reminder. With this active,the system selects and plays tracksrandomly rather than sequentially.Random selection only works on thedisc currently playing, not across allsix discs. Cancel random selection bypressing A. SELECT again. Randomselection is also cancelled by select-ing the SCAN function.

RANDOMTRACKSELECTION


Audio System

Error IndicationsIf you see an error indication on thedisplay, find the cause in the chart tothe right. If you cannot clear theerror indication, take the car to yourAcura dealer.


Security

Security System

The security system helps to protectyour car and valuables from theft.The horn sounds, the headlights popup, and all the exterior lights flash ifsomeone attempts to break into yourcar or remove the radio. The systemalarms continue for two minutesunless you turn it off manually. Toturn the system off, unlock eitherdoor with the key.

The security system sets automati-cally fifteen seconds after you lockthe doors, hood, rear window andtrunk. For the system to activate, youmust lock the doors from the outsidewith the key, lock tab, or door lockswitch (see page 41). The securitysystem light next to the driver's doorlock starts blinking immediately toshow you the system is setting itself.

Once the security system is set,opening either door (without thekey), the hood, or the rear windowwill cause it to alarm. It also alarms ifthe radio is removed from thedashboard or the wiring is cut.

With the system set, you can stillopen the trunk with the master keywithout triggering the alarm. Thealarm will sound if the trunk lock isforced or smashed, or the trunk isopened with the release button onthe driver's door.

The security system does not set if

the hood, rear window, trunk, oreither door is not latched completely.If the system will not set, check theDoor and Lamp Monitor on theinstrument panel (see page 24), tosee if the doors, rear window, andtrunk are fully closed. Since it is notmonitored, manually check the hood.


Before Driving

Before you begin driving your NSX,you should know what gasoline touse, and that your car is full of oil andother important fluids. You also needto know how to stow luggage andpackages. This section will help you.If you plan to add any accessories toyour car, please read the informationin this section first.

General Precautions ...................... 90Break-in Period .............................. 91Gasoline .......................................... 91

Gasoline Containing Alcohol .... 91Driving In Foreign Countries.... 92

Service Station Procedures............ 92Filling The Gas Tank.................. 92To Get To The Engine................ 93Checking The Front

Compartment.......................... 97Fuel Economy ................................ 99

Vehicle Condition ...................... 99Driving Habits ............................ 99

Accessories.................................... 100Loading Cargo .............................. 101

Before Driving

General Precautions

Your NSX is designed to give youoptimum handling and performanceon well-maintained roads. As part ofthis design, your car has a minimumof ground clearance and very low-profile tires.

Use caution if you should driveyour car on very rough or ruttedroads. You could damage thesuspension and underbody bybottoming out. Going too fast overparking lot "speed bumps" canalso cause damage. Curbs and steep inclines could

damage the front and rear bump-ers. Low curbs that do not affectthe average sedan may be highenough to hit the bumper on yourNSX. The front or rear bumpermay scrape when trying to driveonto an incline, such as a steepdriveway or trailer ramps.

Because of the low-profile tiresfitted to your car, the alloy wheelsare closer to the ground. Drivingover a pothole or road debris at toohigh a speed can seriously damagea wheel. Slow down under theseconditions.

Before Driving

Break-In Period, Gasoline

Break-In PeriodHelp assure your car's future reliabil-ity and performance by paying extraattention to how you drive during thefirst 600 miles (1,000 km.). Duringthis period:

Avoid full-throttle starts and rapidacceleration. Do not exceed 5,500RPM for the first 600 miles (1,000km.) of operation.

If you need to add oil, use theengine oil recommended in thisowner's manual (see page 128).

Avoid hard braking. New brakesneed to be broken-in by moderateuse for the first 200 miles (300km.).

You should follow these samerecommendations with an over-hauled or exchanged engine, orwhen the brakes are relined.

GasolineYour NSX is designed to operatemost effectively on premium un-leaded gasoline with a pump octanenumber of 91 (research octanenumber of 96) or higher. If you areunable to find premium unleadedgasoline, an unleaded regular may besubstituted. The engine will compen-sate for the lower octane, but youmay notice a decrease in power as aresult.

Using gasoline containing lead willdamage your car's emission controlsand engine. This contributes to airpollution and can void certain parts ofyour warranty.

Gasoline Containing AlcoholTo increase the octane rating, somegasoline companies blend alcoholwith their gasoline. They normallyuse either ethanol (ethyl or grain al-cohol) or methanol (methyl or woodalcohol). You can use a gasoline/alcohol blend in your car if its octanerating is 91 or higher. However, youshould check its contents carefullyfirst.

Gasoline blended with ethanol issometimes marketed as gasohol. Youcan use gasohol in your car if itcontains no more than 10% ethanol byvolume.

CONTINUED

Before Driving

Gasoline, Service Station Procedures

If the gasoline is blended withmethanol, make sure the methanolconcentration is no more than 5%AND that the blend also containscosolvents and corrosion inhibitors.Methanol is corrosive and willdamage your car's fuel system ifcosolvents and corrosion inhibitorsare not included.

Some states require informationabout the alcohol content of thegasoline to be posted on the pump. Ifnot, stations selling gasoline contain-ing alcohol should be able to give youinformation about the type andpercent of alcohol in their gas.

If you suspect problems with yourengine's performance when usinggasoline containing alcohol, switch toa conventional unleaded premiumgasoline with the correct octanerating. Your warranty does not coverdamage to your car or performanceproblems caused by gasoline contain-ing alcohol.

Driving In Foreign CountriesUsing any type of leaded gasoline inyour NSX will affect performance anddamage its emission controls andengine. Unleaded gasoline may notbe available in other countries. If youare planning to take your car outsidethe U.S. or Canada, telephone theAcura Customer Relations Office at(800) 382-2238.

If you prefer, write to the CustomerRelations Office at the address onpage 219.

Service StationProcedures

1. The fuel filler is on the driver'sside of the car. Park with that sideclosest to the service stationpumps.

2. Open the fuel filler door by pullingon the handle to the left of thedriver's seat.

Before Driving

Filling the Gas Tank

Service Station Procedures

3. Remove the gas cap slowly. Youmay hear a hissing sound as pres-sure inside the tank escapes.Place the gas cap on the inside ofthe door as shown.

4. Stop filling the tank after the gaspump automatically clicks off. Donot try to "top off" the tank, leavesome room for the fuel to expandwith temperature changes.

5. Screw the gas cap back on, tightenit until it clicks.

6. Push the fuel filler door until itlatches.

1. Locate the release handle on therear of the driver's door opening,next to the seat. Pivot this handletowards the driver's seat. The rearwindow will pop up slightly.

CONTINUED

Before Driving

Handling gasoline improperlycan cause it to ignite or ex-plode, causing you to be seri-ously or fatally injured.

Always put out cigarettes andother smoking materials, andkeep all sparks and openflames away when you arearound gasoline.


2. Stand just behind the driver'sdoor. Reach under the rear edge ofthe rear window at its center andraise it. It will stay up by itself.

3. Lift the engine cover. Pull thesupport rod out of its clip on theengine cover and insert the endinto the square hole in the bracket.

To Close the Rear Window:Snap the support rod back into theclip and lower the engine cover. Pullthe rear window down until it isresting on the body, then push on thecenter of the back edge until itlatches. Make sure it is securelyclosed before driving away.

Before Driving


Oil CheckCheck the engine oil level every timeyou fill the car with gas. Wait at leasttwo minutes after turning the engineoff before you check the oil.

1. Remove the dipstick (orangehandle).

2. Wipe the dipstick with a cleancloth or paper towel.

3. Insert it all the way back in itstube.

CONTINUED

Before Driving


4. Remove it again and check thelevel.lt should be between theupper and lower marks.

If it is near or below the lower mark,see page 127 for information on theproper oil and how to add it.

Coolant check

Look at the coolant level in theexpansion tank. Make sure it isbetween MAX and MIN.If it is belowthe MIN mark, see Adding Coolanton page 131 for information onadding the proper coolant.

Refer to Periodic Checks on page125 for information on checkingother items in your NSX.

Before Driving


1. Pull the hood release handle,located under the left lower cornerof the dashboard. Shift to Park orNeutral and set the parking brake.

2. Standing in front of the car, putyour fingers under the front edgeof the hood to the right of center.Slide your hand to the left untilyou feel the hood latch handle.Push this handle to the left until itreleases the hood. Lift the hood.

3. Pull the support rod out of its clipand insert the end into the squarehole on the right side of the hood.

4. To close the hood, lift it up slightlyto remove the support rod fromthe hole.

CONTINUED

Before Driving

Checking the Front Compartment


5. Snap the support rod back into itsholding clip.

6. To close the hood, lower the hoodabout halfway down and let thehood drop. Make sure the hood issecurely latched.

Refer to Maintenance on pages 119-165 for instructions on how to checkitems under the hood.

Before Driving

Fuel Economy

The condition of your car and yourdriving habits are the two mostimportant things that affect the fuelmileage you get.

Vehicle ConditionAlways maintain your car accordingto the maintenance schedule. Thiswill keep it in top operating condition.An important part of that mainte-nance is the Periodic Checks (seepage 125). Check the tire pressure atleast monthly. An underinflated tirecauses more "rolling resistance,"which uses fuel. It also wears outfaster. In winter, the build-up of snowon your car's underside adds weightand rolling resistance.

Driving HabitsYou can improve fuel economy bydriving moderately. Rapid accelera-tion, cornering, and hard braking usemore fuel. Always drive in thehighest gear that allows the engine torun and accelerate smoothly. Main-tain a constant speed when cruising,depending on traffic conditions.Every time you slow down and speedup, your car uses extra fuel. Use thecruise control, when appropriate, toincrease fuel economy.

A cold engine uses more fuel than awarm engine. When you first startyour car in the morning, do not let itidle for a long period. Drive away assoon as the engine is runningsmoothly. To cut down on thenumber of "cold starts," try to com-bine several short trips into one.

The air conditioner puts an extra loadon the engine which makes it usemore fuel. To cut down on air condi-tioner use, set the climate control to ahigher temperature. You could alsomanually turn off the A/C and usethe ventilation only.

Before Driving

Accessories

Your Acura dealer has many GenuineAcura Accessories that allow you topersonalize your car. These have allbeen approved for installation anduse on your car, and are covered bywarranty.

Some non-Acura accessories you canpurchase in the "aftermarket" aredesigned for universal applications.Although they may fit your NSX, theymay not be within factory specifica-tions. For example, aftermarketwheels may not meet Acura's specifi-cations for width and offset. Theycould cause suspension problemswhich would not be covered by yourwarranty. Improperly-designed acces-sories can adversely affect your car'shandling and stability.

Your car has several computer-controlled systems, including theSRS system, the engine's fuel injec-tion, Anti-lock Brake system and theTraction Control system. Strong elec-tronic interference can affect theiroperation.

Electronic communications equip-ment, such as cellular telephones andtwo-way radios are regulated by theFCC and should not interfere withyour car's systems. Improper installa-tion, or using electrical equipmentnot intended for mobile use mayinterfere with your car's operation. Ifyou want to install a cellular tele-phone, other mobile communicationsequipment or even add-on stereoamplifiers, please discuss it first withyour Acura dealer.

In many cases, improper installationis the real cause of problems withaftermarket accessories. Have theseaccessories installed by qualifiedtechnicians who are familiar withyour NSX. If possible, have yourAcura dealer inspect the final installa-tion.

Before Driving

Loading Cargo

Any packages or other items youwant to transport should be stored inthe trunk. They should be no heavierthan 100 lbs (45 kg). If you mustcarry something in the passengercompartment that is too large to fit inthe glove box, store it on the passen-ger side floor.

Do not store anything under thedriver's seat. It can roll forward andblock the pedals or your feet. Youmay not be able to brake or releasethe clutch.

The front compartment is not forcarrying cargo. Parts of the Anti-lockbrake system, SRS, and other sys-tems are in the front compartmentand could be accidentally damaged.Cargo may also restrict airflowthrough the radiator, causing over-heating of the engine. Storing cargoin the area between the rear windowand engine cover cuts your vision tothe rear.

Because it is a sealed compartmentnext to the engine, the trunk can getvery warm. Be careful of the type ofitems you store in it. Highly-flam-mable liquids (gasoline, kerosene) oraerosol cans could possibly catch fireor explode. Fresh or frozen foodcould spoil if left in the trunk for verylong. Use the trunk to transportnormal luggage, sports equipment,etc.

Before Driving

The trunk gets very hot whiledriving. Carrying flammableliquids or aerosol products inthe trunk can cause a fire orexplosion.

Never carry flammable liquidsor aerosol products in thetrunk.

Driving

This section gives you tips on start-ing the engine under various condi-tions, and how to operate the 5-speedand automatic transmissions. It alsoincludes important information onyour car's braking system and theTraction Control System.

Preparing To Drive ...................... 104Starting The Engine .................... 105

5-speed Transmission .............. 105Automatic Transmission.......... 105Starting In Cold Weather

At High Altitude .................... 1065-speed Manual Transmission .... 107

Recommended Shift Points .... 107Maximum Speeds .................... 108

Automatic Transmission.............. 108Shift Lever Position .................. 108Maximum Speeds .................... 110Shift Lock Release .................... 111

The Braking System .................... 112Break Wear Indicators ............ 112Brake System Design .............. 112Anti-lock Brakes........................ 113

Traction Control System.............. 114TCS On/Off Switch .................. 115TCS Indicator............................ 115

Driving In Bad Weather .............. 116Towing A Trailer .......................... 117

Driving

Preparing To Drive

You should do the following checksand adjustments every day beforeyou drive your car.

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

2. Check that the hood, trunk andrear window are fully closed.

3. Check that any items you may becarrying with you inside arestored or fastened down securely.

4. Check the adjustment of the seat(see page 44).

5. Check the adjustment of theinside and outside mirrors (seepage 46).

6. Check the adjustment of thesteering wheel (see page 35).

7. Make sure both doors are se-curely closed and locked.

8. Fasten your seat belt. Check thatyour passenger has fastened his(see page 6).

9. Turn the ignition ON. Check theindicator lights on the instrumentpanel.

10. Start the engine (see page 105).

11. Check the gauges and indicatorlights in the instrument panel (seepage 22).

Driving

Starting the Engine

5-Speed Transmission1. Apply the parking brake.

2. In cold weather, turn off all electri-cal accessories to reduce the drainon the battery.

3. Push the clutch pedal down all theway. START does not operateunless the clutch pedal is de-pressed.

4. Without touching the acceleratorpedal, turn the ignition key to theSTART position. If the enginedoes not start right away, do nothold the key in START for morethan 15 seconds at a time. Pausefor at least 10 seconds beforetrying again.

5. If the engine does not start within15 seconds, or starts but stallsright away, repeat step 4 with theaccelerator pedal pressed half-waydown. If the engine starts, releasepressure on the accelerator pedalso the engine does not race.

6. If the engine still does not start,press the accelerator pedal all theway down and hold it there whilestarting in order to clear flooding.As before, keep the ignition key inthe START position for no morethan 15 seconds. Return to step 5if the engine does not start. If itstarts, lift your foot off the accel-erator pedal so the engine doesnot race.

Automatic Transmission1. Apply the parking brake.

2. In cold weather, turn off all electri-cal accessories to reduce the drainon the battery.

3. Make sure the shift lever is inPark. Press on the brake pedal.

4. Without touching the acceleratorpedal, turn the ignition key to theSTART position. If the enginedoes not start right away, do nothold the key in START for morethan 15 seconds at a time. Pausefor at least 10 seconds beforetrying again.

CONTINUED

Driving

Starting the Engine

5. If the engine does not start within15 seconds, or starts but stallsright away, repeat step 4 with theaccelerator pedal pressed half-waydown. If the engine starts, releasepressure on the accelerator pedalso the engine does not race.

6. If the engine still does not start,press the accelerator pedal all theway down and hold it there whilestarting in order to clear flooding.As before, keep the ignition key inthe START position for no morethan 15 seconds. Return to step 5if the engine does not start. If itstarts, lift your foot off the accel-erator pedal so the engine doesnot race.

Starting in Cold Weather At HighAltitude (Above 8000 feet)An engine is harder to start in coldweather. The thinner air found athigh altitude above 8000 feet adds tothe problem. Use the following proce-dure:

1. Turn off all electrical accessoriesto reduce the drain on the battery.

2. Push the accelerator pedal half-way to the floor and hold it therewhile starting the engine. Do nothold the ignition key in START formore than 15 seconds. When theengine starts, release the accelera-tor pedal gradually as the enginespeeds up and smooths out.

3. If the engine fails to start in step 2,push the accelerator pedal to thefloor and hold it there while youtry to start the engine for no morethan 15 seconds. If the enginedoes not start, return to step 2.

Driving

5-Speed Manual Transmission

The manual transmission is synchro-nized in all forward gears for smoothoperation. It has a lockout so youcannot shift directly from Fifth toReverse. When shifting up or down,make sure you push the clutch pedaldown all the way, shift to the nextgear, and let the pedal up gradually.When you are not shifting, do notrest your foot on the clutch pedal.This can cause your clutch to wearout faster.

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

You can get extra braking from theengine when slowing down byshifting to a lower gear. This extrabraking can help you maintain a safespeed and prevent your brakes fromoverheating while going down asteep hill. Before downshifting,make sure engine speed will not gointo the red zone in the lower gear.Refer to the Maximum Speeds chart.

Recommended Shift PointsDrive in the highest gear that lets theengine run and accelerate smoothly.This will give you the best fueleconomy and effective emissionscontrol. The following shift points arerecommended:

CONTINUED

Driving

Manual Transmission, Automatic Transmission

Maximum SpeedsThe speeds in this table are themaximums for the given gears. If youexceed these speeds, the enginespeed will enter into the tachometer'sred zone. If this occurs, you may feelthe engine cut in and out. This iscaused by a limiter in the engine'scomputer controls. The engine willrun normally when you reduce theRPM below the red zone.

Automatic TransmissionYour Acura's transmission has fourforward speeds, and is electronicallycontrolled for smoother shifting. Italso has a "lock-up" torque converterfor better fuel economy. You mayfeel what seems like another shiftwhen the converter locks.

Shift Lever Position

This display is on the instrument panelin the tachometer. It shows you theposition of the shift lever (see p. 26 ).

The shift lever has seven positions.It must be in Park or Neutral to startthe engine.

Driving

Automatic Transmission

Park (P) — This position mechani-cally locks the transmission. UsePark whenever you are turning off orstarting the engine. To shift out ofPark, you must press on the brakepedal and have your foot off theaccelerator pedal. Push the releasebutton on the side of the shift lever tomove it.

You must also press the releasebutton to shift into Park. To avoidtransmission damage, come to acomplete stop before shifting intoPark. The shift lever must be in Parkbefore you can remove the key fromthe ignition switch.

Reverse (R) — To shift to Reversefrom Park, see the explanation underPark. To shift to Reverse fromNeutral, come to a complete stop andthen shift. Press the release buttonbefore shifting into Reverse fromNeutral.

Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if youneed to restart a stalled engine, or ifit is necessary to stop briefly with theengine idling. Shift to Park position ifyou need to leave the car for anyreason. Press on the brake pedalwhen you are moving the shift leverfrom Neutral to another gear.

Drive (D) — Use this position foryour normal driving. The transmis-sion will automatically select theproper gear for conditions. When youare stopped in Drive, 3, 2,1 orReverse press firmly on the brakepedal. Never press on the acceleratorpedal at the same time. You maynotice the transmission shifting up athigher speeds when the engine iscold. This helps the engine warm upfaster. For faster acceleration whenpassing, you can get the transmissionto automatically downshift by push-ing the accelerator pedal to the floor.The transmission will shift down to alower gear.

CONTINUED

Driving


3, 2, 1 — These positions hold thetransmission in their respectivegears. By upshifting and downshift-ing through Drive, 3, 2, and 1, youcan operate this transmission muchlike a manual transmission without aclutch pedal. When you downshift,however, the transmission will notactually change gears unless theengine speed will stay below the redzone in the lower gear.

Put the shift lever in 2 when startingout on a loose or slippery surface.The reduced power will help preventwheelspin.

If you start out with the shift lever in3, the transmission will be in thirdgear. You can get the transmission toshift down to second gear temporar-ily by flooring the accelerator.

Maximum SpeedsThe speeds in this table are themaximums for the given position. Ifyou exceed these speeds, the enginespeed will enter into the tachometer'sred zone. If this occurs, you may feelthe engine cut in and out. This iscaused by a limiter in the engine'scomputer controls. The engine willrun normally when you reduce theRPM below the red zone.

Driving


Shift Lock ReleaseThis allows you to move the shiftlever out of Park if the normalmethod of pushing on the brakepedal and pressing the release buttondoes not work.

1. Remove the key from the ignitionswitch.

2. Set the Parking brake.

3. Insert the key in the Shift LockRelease slot next to the shift lever. 4. Push down on the key while you

press the release button and movethe shift lever out of Park toNeutral.

5. Remove the key from the ShiftLock Release slot. Depress thebrake pedal and restart the engine.

If you need to use the Shift LockRelease it could mean your car isdeveloping a problem. Have the carchecked by your Acura dealer.

Driving

The Braking System

Your Acura is equipped with discbrakes at all four wheels. A powerassist helps reduce the effort neededon the brake pedal. Anti-lock Brak-ing helps you retain steering abilityin hard stops.

Put your foot on the brake pedal onlywhen you intend to brake. Restingyour foot on the pedal keeps thebrakes applied lightly, causing themto build up heat. Heat build-up canreduce how well your brakes work. Italso keeps your brake lights on allthe time, confusing drivers behindyou.

Constant application of the brakeswhen going down a long hill buildsup heat and reduces their effective-ness. Use the engine to assist thebrakes by downshifting to a lowergear and taking your foot off theaccelerator pedal.

Check your brakes after drivingthrough deep water. Apply thebrakes moderately to see if they feelnormal. If not, apply them gently andfrequently until they dry. Since alonger distance is needed to stopwith wet brakes, be extra cautiousand alert in your driving.

Brake Wear IndicatorsAll four brakes have audible brakewear indicators. When the brakepads need replacing, you will hear a"screeching" sound when you applythe brakes.

Your brakes may sometimes squealor squeak when you use them lightly.Do not confuse this with the brakewear indicators. They make a veryaudible "screeching."

Brake System DesignThe hydraulic system that operatesthe brakes has two separate circuits.Each circuit works diagonally acrossthe car (the left-front brake is con-nected with the right-rear brake,etc.). If one circuit should develop aproblem, you will still have braking attwo wheels.

Driving

The Braking System

If this happens, you will immediatelynotice that the brake pedal goesdown much farther and you need topress on it much harder. A muchlonger distance will be needed tostop the car.

Slow the car by downshifting to alower gear and removing your footfrom the accelerator pedal. Pull to theside of the road as soon as it is safe.Because of the longer stoppingdistance needed, brake systemfailure is very hazardous. It is best tohave your car towed, but if you mustdrive the car in this condition, beextremely cautious. Have your carrepaired as soon as possible.

Anti-lock BrakesYour car has an Anti-lock brakesystem. Under very hard braking,the Anti-lock brake system helps youto maintain stopping and steeringcontrol. It does this by preventingthe wheels from locking up andskidding. The Anti-lock brake systemis always "ON". It requires nospecial effort or driving technique.You will feel a pulsation in the brakepedal if you brake hard enough forthe Anti-lock brake system to acti-vate. This is normal, and you shouldcontinue braking hard.

You may hear the sound of a smallelectric motor coming from underthe hood, especially after brakingvery hard. This is the Anti-lock brakesystem pump working.

The Anti-lock brake system is self-checking. If anything goes wrong,the Anti-lock brake system indicatoron the instrument panel comes on(see page 24). This means the Anti-lock function of the braking systemhas shut down. The brakes still worklike a conventional system providingnormal stopping ability. You shouldhave the dealer inspect your car assoon as possible.

Driving

CONTINUED

The Braking System, Traction Control System

The Anti-lock brake system works bycomparing the speed of the wheels.When replacing tires, use the samesize originally supplied with the car.Tire size and construction can affectwheel speed and may confuse theAnti-lock brake system computer.

A car with Anti-lock brake systemmay require a longer distance to stopon loose or uneven surfaces than anequivalent car without Anti-lockbrake system. Anti-lock brake systemcannot make up for road conditionsor bad judgment. It is still your re-sponsibility to drive at reasonablespeeds for weather and traffic condi-tions, and to leave a margin of safety.

For a technical description of theAnti-lock brake system hardware,refer to page 210.

Traction Control SystemYour Acura is equipped with aTraction Control System (TCS). TCSassists you in maintaining tractionwhile accelerating on slipperysurfaces. It does this by regulatingthe engine's power output when itsenses either of the drive wheelsstarting to spin. This increases thecar's traction and directional stabilityon loose or slippery road surfaces.

Driving with TCS requires no specialskills or technique. The TCS doesnot affect braking, and cannot pre-vent skidding if you enter a cornertoo fast. It is still your responsibilityto drive at reasonable speeds and toleave a sufficient margin of safety.

When driving on a loose or slipperyroad surface, you may notice that theengine does not respond to theaccelerator in the same way it does atother times. This is a sign the TCSis active. You will see the TCSactivation light flash.

You should still install snow tires onyour car during the winter. Exercisethe same caution in winter driving asyou would if your car was notequipped with TCS.

Driving

Traction Control System

Driving with the folding spare tire(see page 186) installed will activatethe TCS. You may want to turn thesystem off under this condition.

TCS On/Off Switch

This switch is on the dashboardbehind the right control pod. It letsyou turn the Traction Control Systemon and off. You cannot turn off theTCS while the TCS Activation light isflashing.

If the TCS develops a problem, theTCS indicator comes on and the TCSis automatically disabled. The TCSOFF indicator does not come onunder this condition. If you see this,pull to the side of the road at yourfirst opportunity and turn off theengine. Reset the system by restart-ing the engine, and see if the TCSindicator goes out. If it remains on,or comes back on again while driv-ing, have the TCS inspected by yourAcura dealer. You can still drive thecar without TCS.

While driving, the TCS indicator mayoccasionally come on for a fewseconds and then go out. This isnormal.

Driving

Deactivate the system by pressingthe TCS On/Off switch. The light inthe switch goes out, and the TCSOFF indicator comes on. Pressingthe switch again turns the systemback on.

The Traction Control System turnson every time you start the engine,even if you turned it off the last timeyou drove the car.

TCS Indicator

Driving In Bad Weather

Rain, fog, and snow conditionsrequire a different driving techniquebecause of reduced traction andvisibility. Keep your car well-main-tained and exercise greater cautionwhen you need to drive in badweather. The cruise control shouldnot be used in these conditions.

Driving Technique — Always driveslower than you would in dryweather. It takes your car longer toreact, even in conditions that mayseem just barely damp. Applysmooth, even pressure to all thecontrols. Abrupt steering wheelmovements or sudden, hard applica-tion of the brakes can cause loss ofcontrol in wet weather. Be extracautious for the first few miles ofdriving while you adjust to thechange in driving conditions. This isespecially true in snow. A person canforget some snow-driving techniquesduring the summer months. Practiceis needed to relearn those skills.

Exercise extra caution when drivingin rain after a long dry spell. Aftermonths of dry weather, the first rainsbring oil to the surface of the road-way, making it slippery.

Visibility — Being able to see clearlyin all directions, and being visible toother drivers are important in allweather conditions. This is moredifficult in bad weather. To be seenmore clearly during daylight hours,turn on your headlights.

Inspect your windshield wipers andwashers frequently. Keep thewindshield washer reservoir full ofthe proper fluid. Replace the wind-shield wiper blades if they start tostreak the windshield or leave partsunwiped. Use the defrosters and airconditioner to keep the windowsfrom fogging up on the inside (seepage 61).

Driving

Driving In Bad Weather, Towing A Trailer

Traction — Check your tires fre-quently for wear and proper pres-sure. Both are important in prevent-ing "hydroplaning" (loss of tractionon a wet surface). In the winter,mount snow tires on all four wheelsfor the best handling.

Watch road conditions carefully, theycan change from moment to moment.Wet leaves can be as slippery as ice."Clear" roads can have patches of ice.Driving conditions can be very haz-ardous when the outside temperatureis near freezing. The road surfacecan become covered with areas ofwater puddles mixed with areas ofice, so your traction can changewithout warning.

Be careful when downshifting. Iftraction is low, you can lock up thedrive wheels for a moment and causea skid.

Be very cautious when passing, orbeing passed by, other vehicles. Thespray from large vehicles reducesyour visibility, and the wind buffetingcan cause you to lose control.

Towing A TrailerYour NSX is not designed to tow atrailer. Attempting to install a trailerhitch on your NSX can cause seriousdamage to its undercarriage.

Driving

Maintenance

Regularly maintaining your NSX isthe best way to protect your invest-ment. You will be rewarded withsafer, more economical, trouble-freedriving. This section tells you how tocheck many items on your car, andhow to perform simple do-it-yourselfmaintenance. It also includes themaintenance schedules for normaland severe driving conditions.

If you are interested in how toperform more complex maintenanceon your NSX, you can purchase theNSX Service Manual. See page 221for information on how to obtain acopy, or see your Acura dealer.

Maintenance Schedule ................ 120Maintenance Record................ 123Non-Scheduled Maintenance.. 124

Periodic Checks............................ 125Fluid Locations.............................. 126Engine Oil...................................... 127

Checking Engine Oil .............. 127Adding ...................................... 127Recommended Oil .................. 128Additives.................................... 128Oil and Filter Changes ............ 129

Cooling System ............................ 131Checking the Coolant Level.... 131Adding Coolant ........................ 131Replacing Coolant.................... 132

Windshield Washers .................... 137Transmission Oil .......................... 138

Automatic Transmission.......... 1385-speed Transmission.............. 139

Brake Fluid.................................... 140Brake System............................ 140Anti-lock Brake System .......... 141Clutch System .......................... 141

Air Cleaner .................................... 142Fuel Filter...................................... 144Spark Plugs.................................... 144Battery............................................ 147Windshield Wipers ...................... 150Air Conditioner.............................. 152Engine Belts .................................. 153Tires .............................................. 153

Inflation .................................... 153Inspection.................................. 154Maintenance ............................ 155Tire Rotation ............................ 155Replacing Tires ........................ 155Wheels and Tires .................... 156DOT Tire Quality Grading ...... 156

Treadwear.............................. 156Traction.................................. 156Temperature.......................... 157

Snow Tires ................................ 157Tire Chains................................ 157

Lights, Replacing Bulbs .............. 158Storing Your Car .......................... 165

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Maintenance Schedule

The Required Maintenance Schedulespecifies how often you should haveyour car serviced, and what thingsneed attention. It is essential thatyour car be serviced as scheduled toretain its high level of safety, de-pendability, and emission controlperformance.

The services and periods shown inthe maintenance schedule are basedon the assumption you will use yourcar as it was designed, which is:

To carry a driver, passenger andcargo while not exceeding the loadlimits shown on the label on thedriver's door jamb.To be operated on reasonableroads within the legal speed limit.To be driven regularly over adistance of several miles.To be run on a premium unleadedgasoline with a pump octanenumber of 91 (research octanenumber of 96) or higher.

Your Acura dealer knows your carbest, and can provide competent,efficient service. However, service ata dealer is not mandatory to keepyour warranties in effect. Mainte-nance may be done by any qualifiedservice facility or person who isskilled in this type of automotiveservice. Keep all the receipts asproof of completion, and have theperson who does the work fill out themaintenance record on page 123.Check your warranty booklet formore information.Maintenance, replacement, orrepair of emission control devicesand systems may be done by anyautomotive repair establishmentor individual using parts that are"certified" to EPA standards.

Vehicles sold in California haveslightly different maintenancerequirements. These are noted inthe Required Maintenance.Other maintenance operations are re-quired by California regulations, andcondition the emission warranty.

Maintenance

Maintenance Schedule

R—Replace C—Clean I—Inspect After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.

Severe Driving ConditionsItems with an or in the chart will need servicemore often, if you drive in some severe conditions.

The conditions are:A. Repeated short distance driving.B. Dusty conditions.C. Severe cold wheather.D. Areas with road salt or other corrosive materials.E. Rough or muddy roads.

The services are:— Clean the air cleaner element every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 6 months and replace every

30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 24 months under condition B or E.

— Replace engine oil and oil filter every 3,750 miles (6,000 km) or 3 months under condition A or B.

— Inspect front and rear brake discs and calipers, and rear brake pads every 7,500 miles(12,000 km) or 6 months under condition A, B, D, or E.

— Inspect the power steering system every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 6 months under condition B,C, or E.

Maintenance

R—Replace C—Clean I—Inspect After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.

Check oil and coolant level at each fuel stop.Under severe driving conditions, service these items more often.

*1 For cars sold in Carifornia, this service is recommended only; other areas, it is required.*2 Tension adjustment only.*3 Thereafter, replace every 2 years or 30,000 miles (48,000 km), whichever comes first.*4 Replace every 6 years or 60,000 miles (96,000 km), whichever comes first.

Required Maintenance Record

Have your servicing dealer record all Required Maintenance below. Keep receipts for all work done on your car.

Maintenance

Non-Scheduled Maintenance Record

Record additional maintenance for severe driving conditions or non-scheduled maintenance on this page. (See page 122)

Maintenance

Periodic Checks

You should check the followingitems at the specified intervals. Ifyou are unsure of how to perform thecheck, turn to the page given.

Engine oil level — check every timeyou fill the gas tank. See page 127.

Engine coolant level — check theexpansion tank every time you fillthe gas tank. See page 131.

Windshield washer fluid — checkthe level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you touse the washers frequently, checkthe reservoir each time you stop forgas. See page 137.

Automatic transmission — check thefluid level monthly. See page 138.

Brakes and clutch — check the fluidlevel monthly. See page 140.

Tires — check the tire pressuremonthly. Examine the tread forwear and foreign objects. See page154.

Battery — check its condition andthe terminals for corrosionmonthly. See page 147.

Air conditioner — check its opera-tion weekly. See page 54.

Lights — check the operation of theheadlights, parking lights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights,and license plate light monthly.See page 30.

Maintenance

Fluid Locations

Maintenance

ANTI LOCK BRAKERESERVOIR(Grey Cap)

WASHER FLUID(Blue Cap)

MANUAL TRANSMISSIONFILLER BOLT

ENGINE OILDIPSTICK(Orange Loop)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONFLUID DIPSTICK(Yellow Loop)

EXPANSIONTANK CAP

ENGINE OILFILLER CAP

CLUTCH FLUID(Gray Cap)

BRAKE FLUID(Gray Cap)

Engine Oil

Checking Engine Oil

Check the engine oil a couple ofminutes after shutting off the engine.Make sure the car is parked on levelground. This will allow the oil todrain down into the bottom of theengine.

1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe itclean with a cloth or paper towel.

2. Reinsert it all the way in as far as itwill go.

3. Pull the dipstick out and look atthe oil level at the end of thedipstick. If it is between the upperand lower marks, the level iscorrect.

Adding

If the oil level reaches the lowermark on the dipstick, add one quartof the recommended engine oil. Todo this, unscrew and remove the oilfiller cap on top of the front valvecover. Pour in the oil, and replacethe filler cap. Make sure it is se-curely tightened.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Engine Oil

Recommended OilOil is a major contributor to yourengine's performance and longevity.Always use a premium-grade deter-gent oil. You can determine an oil'sSAE viscosity and Service Classifica-tion from the API Service label on theoil container. It should look like this:

The numbers in the middle tell youthe oil's SAE viscosity or weight.Select the oil for your car accordingto this chart:

An oil with a viscosity of 10W-30 ispreferred for improved fuel economyand year-round protection in yourNSX. You may use a 5W-30 oil if theclimate in your area is within thetemperature range shown on thechart.

A fuel-efficient oil is recommendedfor your NSX. This is shown on theAPI Service label by the words"Energy Conserving I I . " This oil isformulated to help your engine useless fuel.

The API Service label also tells youthe service classification of the oil.Always use an oil that says "APIService SG." This service ratingmay also include the designation ofCD. An oil that is only classified SF isnot recommended.

AdditivesYour NSX does not need any oil addi-tives. Purchasing additives for theengine or transmission will notincrease your car's performance orlongevity. It only increases the cost ofoperating your car.

Maintenance

Engine Oil

Oil and Filter ChangesAlways change the oil and filter ac-cording to the time and mileage recom-mendations on the maintenance sched-ule. The oil and filter collect contami-nants that can damage your engine ifthey are not removed regularly.Changing the oil and filter requiresspecial tools and access from under-neath the car. The car should beraised on a service station-typehydraulic lift for this service. Unlessyou have the knowledge and properequipment, you should have thismaintenance done by a skilledmechanic.

To change the oil and filter:

1. Run the engine until it reachesnormal operating temperature,then shut it off.

2. Remove the oil filler cap. Removethe oil drain bolt from the bottomof the engine. Drain the oil into anappropriate container.

3. Remove the oil filter and let the re-maining oil drain. A specialwrench (available from your Acuradealer) is required to remove thefilter.

Maintenance

Repeated, prolonged exposureto used motor oil may causeskin cancer.

Wash your hands thoroughlywith strong soap as soon aspossible after handling usedoil.

The oil and engine componentsare hot and can burn you. Usecaution and wear protectiveclothing while changing the oiland filter.

CONTINUED

ABHIJEET

ABHIJEET

Engine Oil

4. Install a new oil filter according toinstructions that come with it.

5. Put a new washer on the drainbolt, then reinstall the drain bolt.Tighten it to 33 lb-ft (46 N.m).

6. Refill the engine with the recom-mended oil.

Engine Oil Capacity: 5.3 US qt(5.0 )

7. Replace the oil filler cap. Start theengine. The oil pressure warninglight should go out within five sec-onds and the gauge should regis-ter normal oil pressure. If not,turn off the engine and reinspectyour work.

8. Let the engine run for severalminutes and check the drain boltand oil filter for leaks.

9. Turn off the engine, let it sit forseveral minutes, then check the oillevel. If necessary, add oil to bringthe level to the upper mark on thedipstick.

If you change your own oil, pleasedispose of the used oil properly. Putit in a sealed container and take it to arecycling center. Do not discard it ina trash bin or dump it on the ground.

The oil and filter should be changedevery 6 months or 7500 miles (12,000km), whichever comes first. Undersevere driving conditions, theyshould be changed every 3 months or3750 miles (6,000 km). See page 122for a description of severe drivingconditions.

Maintenance

Cooling System

Checking the Coolant Level

Check the level of the engine coolantby looking at the expansion tankmounted above the engine. If thelevel is at or below the MIN line, addcoolant to bring it up to the MAX line.This coolant should always be amixture of 50% antifreeze and 50%water. Never add straight antifreezeor plain water.

Always use Genuine HondaAntifreeze/Coolant. The coolingsystem contains many aluminumcomponents which can corrode if animproper antifreeze is used. Someantifreezes, even though they arelabeled as safe for aluminum parts,may not provide adequate protection.

Adding Coolant

Loosen the expansion tank cap byturning it counterclockwise, withoutpushing it down, until it stops. Thiswill relieve any remaining pressure inthe cooling system. Then removethe cap by pushing down and turn-ing. Fill the expansion tank withcoolant to the MAX line and put thecap back on.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Removing the expansion tankcap while the engine is hot cancause the coolant to spray out,seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine and ra-diator cool down before re-moving the expansion tankcap.

Cooling System

Do not add any rust inhibitors orother additives to your car's coolingsystem. They may not be compatiblewith the coolant or engine compo-nents.

Replacing CoolantThe cooling system should becompletely drained and refilled withnew coolant according to the timeand mileage recommendations in themaintenance schedule. Only userecommended antifreeze.

Replacing the coolant requiresspecial tools and access from under-neath the car. Unless you have thetools and knowlege, you should havethis maintenance done by a skilledmechanic.

Before replacing the coolant, turn theignition ON, slowly turn the climatecontrol temperature knob to 90°Fand turn off the ignition. This willallow the coolant in the heater todrain out with the rest of the system.

To replace the coolant:

1. Open the hood, the rear window,and engine cover.

2. Remove the cover protecting thecoolant pipes and shift linkage onthe underside of the car.

Maintenance

Cooling System

3. With the engine and radiator coolto the touch, remove the expan-sion tank cap.

4. Remove the drain plug from thebottom of the radiator.

5. Loosen the bleeder plug on top ofthe radiator.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Cooling System

6. Remove the drain plugs from thecoolant pipes under the car.

7. Loosen the drain plugs on theengine.

8. When the coolant stops draining,tighten the engine drain plugs,reinstall the plugs in the coolantpipes, and reinstall the radiatordrain plug.

9. Mix the recommended antifreezewith an equal amount of purified ordistilled water in a clean container.

The cooling systemcapacity is: 12.7 US qt (12.0 )

Maintenance

Cooling System

10. Remove the bleeder cap from thetop of the heater inlet.

11. Loosen the bleeder bolt on top ofthe engine.

12. Loosen the bleeder bolt near theexpansion tank.

13. Pour coolant into the expansiontank. Coolant will go through thetank into the system. When thetank is full, go to each of the fourbleeders. Close each bleederwhen coolant comes out of it in asteady stream with no bubbles.You may need to refill the expan-sion tank.

Maintenance

CONTINUED

Cooling System

14. Fill the expansion tank to about 1inch above the MAX line. Put thecap back on the tank, only tightenit to the first stop. Start the engineand let it run until it warms up(the radiator cooling fan comes onat least twice).

15. Turn off the engine. Check theexpansion tank and, if needed, addcoolant to bring it up to the MAXline. Tighten the expansion tankcap. Reinstall the cover on thecar's underside.

The first coolant replacement shouldbe done at 36 months or 45,000 miles(72,000 km) by your dealer. Afterthat, it should be replaced every 2years or 30,000 miles (48,000 km).

Maintenance

Windshield Washer

Check the level in the windshieldwasher reservoir at least monthlyduring normal usage. In badweather, when you use the washersoften, check the level every time youstop for gas.

The windshield washer reservoir islocated in the front compartment infront of the radiator.

Check the windshield washer fluidlevel as follows:

1. Unfasten the reservoir cap.

2. Cover the small hole on the capwith your finger and pull up untilthe tube is fully exposed.

3. Read the fluid level on the tube.If the fluid level is near the "E"mark, fill the reservoir with wind-shield washer fluid up to the brim.

Use a good-quality windshieldwasher fluid. This increases thecleaning capability and preventsfreezing in cold weather.

Do not use engine antifreeze or avinegar/water solution in the wind-shield washer reservoir. Antifreezecan damage your car's paint, while avinegar/water solution can damagethe windshield washer pump. Useonly commercially-available wind-shield washer fluid.

Maintenance

Transmission Oil


Check the fluid level with the engineat normal operating temperature.

1. Park the car on level ground. Shutoff the engine.

2. Remove the dipstick from thetransmission and wipe it off.

3. Insert the dipstick fully into itstube and pull it out again.

4. Check the fluid level. It should bebetween the upper and lowermarks.

5. If the level is below the lowermark, add fluid to bring it to theupper mark. Use Honda PremiumFormula Automatic TransmissionFluid or an equivalent DEXRON(R)

II Automatic Transmission Fluid(ATF) only.

6. Push the dipstick securely backinto its tube.

The transmission should be drainedand refilled with new fluid every 24months or 30,000 miles (48,000 km),whichever comes first.

Maintenance

Transmission Oil

5-speed Transmission

Check the oil level a couple ofminutes after shutting off the enginewith the car sitting level. Remove thetransmission filler bolt (located nextto the left axle). The oil level shouldbe up to the edge of the bolt hole.Feel inside the bolt hole with yourfinger. If you do not feel any oil,slowly add oil until it starts to run outof the hole. Reinstall the filler boltand tighten it securely.

Only use an SF or SG grade motoroil, with a weight of 10W-30 or10W-40.

The transmission should be drainedand refilled with new oil every 24months or 30,000 miles (48,000 km),whichever comes first.

Maintenance

Brake Fluid

Check the fluid level in the reservoirsmonthly. There are three reservoirs:Brake system, Anti-lock brakesystem, and clutch (5-speed transmis-sion only). The brake fluid of thebrake and Anti-lock brake systemsshould be replaced every 2 years or30,000 miles (48,000 km).

Brake System

The fluid should be between the MINand MAX marks on the side of thereservoir. If it is at or below the MINmark, it is an indication that yourbrake system needs attention. Havethe brake system inspected for leaksor worn brake pads.

If you add brake fluid to bring it up tothe MAX mark, use Genuine HondaBrake Fluid or an equivalent that ismarked DOT3 or DOT4 only. Brakefluid marked DOT5 is not compat-ible with your car's braking system.

Maintenance

Brake Fluid

Anti-lock Brake System

Check the fluid level in this reservoirafter driving the car for at least a fewminutes. It should be between theMIN and MAX marks on the side ofthe reservoir. If it is at or below theMIN mark, it may indicate a problemin the braking system. Have thedealer inspect your car.

If the fluid level is half an inch ormore above the MAX mark, it mayindicate a problem in the Anti-lockbrake system. Have your dealerinspect the system as soon as pos-sible.

If you add brake fluid to bring it up tothe MAX mark, use the same DOT3or DOT4 brake fluid specified for thebrake system.

Clutch System

The fluid should be between the MINand MAX marks on the side of thereservoir. If it is not, add brake fluidto bring it up to that level. Use thesame DOT3 or DOT4 brake fluidspecified for the brake system.

Low fluid level can indicate a leak inthe clutch system. Have this systeminspected as soon as possible.

Maintenance

Air Cleaner

The air filter should be replacedevery 2 years or 30,000 miles (48,000km), whichever comes first. Undersevere driving conditions, it shouldalso be cleaned every 6 months or7,500 miles (12,000 km), whichevercomes first (see the next page).

Replacement

The air filter is inside the box on thedriver's side of the engine compart-ment. To replace it:

1. Loosen the hose clamp around theengine air intake tube. Slide thetube off the cover.

2. Carefully unsnap the two hosesfrom their clips on the cover.

3. Loosen the six phillips-headscrews around the edge of thecover. Remove the cover and set itaside.

Maintenance

Air Cleaner

4. Remove the old air filter element.Clean the element housing with adamp cloth.

5. Install the new filter element,making sure the rubber seal fits onall four sides.

6. Reinstall the cover. Tighten the sixscrews.

7. Slide the air intake tube onto thecover. Tighten the hose clamp.

8. Snap the two hoses back into theirclips on the cover.

Cleaning (Severe Conditions)Follow the replacement procedurefor removal and reinstallation.

Clean the air filter element byblowing compressed air through theside that faces up as installed in thecar. If you do not have access tocompressed air (such as a gasstation), ask your Acura dealer to dothis service.

Maintenance

Fuel Filter, Spark Plugs

Fuel FilterThe fuel filter and system hosesshould be replaced every 4 years or60,000 miles (96,000 km), whichevercomes first. Have a qualified techni-cian change the fuel filter. Since thefuel system is under pressure,gasoline can spray out and create ahazard if the fuel line connections onthe filter are not handled correctly.

The filter may require replacementsooner if you happen to buy one ormore tankfuls of contaminatedgasoline. Have the filter tested or re-placed if you suspect it has beenclogged by contaminants.

Spark PlugsWorn spark plugs reduce your car'sperformance and fuel economy.They should be replaced every 6years or 60,000 miles (96,000 km),whichever comes first.

Replacement

Replace the spark plugs one side at atime. Make sure the front cylinderspark plug caps and the backside ofthe cover have the letter "FR" onthem and the rear cylinder sparkplugs and the backside of the coverhave "RR". To replace them:

1. Remove the cover over the sparkplugs by removing the four 10mm bolts and the two 10 mm capnuts.

Maintenance

Spark Plugs

2. Disconnect the three spark plugcaps from the wire harness bysqueezing the harness end ofeach connector and pulling.

3. Remove the two 10mm boltsholding the spark plug cap.Remove the spark plug cap bypulling it straight out as you twistit slightly.

4. Use a 5/8 in. spark plug socket,with a 6 in. extension, to removethe spark plug.

5. Set the gap on the new spark plugto 0.040 in. (1.1 mm) with a wire-type spark plug gapping tool. Donot use a blade-type feeler gauge.

6. Put the new spark plug into thesocket, then thread it into thehole. Screw it in by hand so youdo not crossthread it.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Spark Plugs

7. Torque the spark plug to 16 lb-ft(22 N.m). (If you do not have atorque wrench, tighten the sparkplug one-quarter turn after itcontacts the cylinder head.)

Tighten the spark plugs carefully. Aspark plug that is too loose canoverheat and damage the engine.Overtightening can cause damage tothe threads in the cylinder head.

8. Install the spark plug cap. Installand tighten the two hold-downbolts to 8.7 lb.ft (12 N.m).

9. Reconnect the spark plug cap tothe wire harness.

10. After changing the three sparkplugs on each side, reinstall thespark plug covers, bolts and nuts.

Tighten the bolts and nuts to 8.7 Ib.ft(12 N.m).

Specifications:

Normal driving conditionsNGK: PFR6G-11Nippondenso: PK20PR-L11

Hot climates, or continuoushigh speed driving

NGK: PFR7G-11Nippondenso: PK22PR-L11

Maintenance

NOTICE

Battery

Check the condition of your car'sbattery monthly. You should checkfor proper electrolyte level andcorrosion on the terminals. Thebattery is located in the front com-partment behind the folding sparetire.

If you get electrolyte on your skin,flush with water.

If you get electrolyte in your eyes,flush them with water for at least 15minutes and immediately call formedical assistance.

If someone swallows electrolyte, havethem drink large quantities of wateror milk, followed by milk of magne-sia or vegetable oil. Call for medicalassistance immediately.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

The battery electrolyte con-tains sulfuric acid which canpoison or burn you.

When checking the battery,wear protective clothing and aface shield to protect youreyes.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OFCHILDREN

The battery gives off explosivehydrogen gas during normaloperation. A spark or openflame can cause the battery toexplode with enough force tokill or seriously hurt you.

Wear protective clothing and aface shield, or have a skilledmechanic do the battery main-tenance.

Battery

The electrolyte level should be be-tween the two lines on the side of thebattery. Low electrolyte level can bean indication of a problem with yourcar's charging system. Take the carto your dealer for service.

Look through the test indicatorwindow on the battery and check theindicator:

Blue-Good conditionRed-Add distilled waterWhite-Charging necessary

If the indicator is red or white:Remove the battery from its mount.

Check the battery terminals forcorrosion (a white or yellowishpowder). To remove it, cover theterminals with a solution of bakingsoda and water. It will bubble up andturn brown. When this stops, wash itoff with plain water. Dry off thebattery with a cloth or paper towel.Coat the terminals with grease tohelp prevent future corrosion.

If the terminals are severely cor-roded, clean them with baking sodaand water. Then use a wrench toloosen and remove the cables fromthe terminals. Always disconnect thenegative (-) cable first and reconnectit last. Clean the battery terminalswith a terminal cleaning tool or wirebrush. Reconnect and tighten thecables, then coat the terminals withgrease.

Maintenance

Battery

If you need to charge the batteryafter storing the car, make sure youdo it outside the car. Do not connecta battery charger to the jump startterminal in the engine compartmentfuse box.

Disconnect the terminals to preventdamage to the car's electrical system,and remove the battery from thefront compartment so hydrogen gasdoes not build up during charging.You need to remove the spare tireholder before removing the battery.

Charging the battery while it isconnected can seriously damageyour car's electronic controls.Detach the battery cables beforeconnecting the battery to a charger.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Windshield Wipers

Check the condition of the wind-shield wiper blades at least every sixmonths. Look for signs of crackingin the rubber, or areas that aregetting hard. Replace the blades ifyou find these signs, or they leavestreaks and unwiped areas whenused. To replace:

1. Turn the ignition switch ON. Turnon the windshield wipers. Turn offthe ignition switch to stop thewipers about a foot above theirpark position.

2. Lift the wiper off the windshield.

3. Disconnect the blade assemblyfrom the wiper arm by pushing inthe lock tab. Hold it in while youpush the blade assembly towardthe base of the arm. Gently lowerthe wiper arm against the wind-shield.

Maintenance

Windshield Wipers

4. Remove the blade from its holderby grasping the tabbed end of theblade. Pull firmly until the tabscome out of the holder.

5. Examine the new wiper blades. Ifthey have no plastic or metalreinforcement along the backedge, remove the metal reinforce-ment strips from the old wiperblade and install them in the slotsalong the edge of the new blade.

6. Slide the new wiper blade into theholder until the tabs lock.

7. Slide the blade assembly onto thewiper arm. Make sure it locks inplace.

8. Turn the ignition ON and returnthe windshield wipers to their parkposition.

Maintenance

Air Conditioner

Your car's air conditioner is a sealedsystem. Any major maintenance,such as recharging, should be doneby a qualified technician. There area couple of things you can do to makesure the air conditioner worksefficiently.

Periodically check the engine's radia-tor and air conditioning condensers(located in the openings below theparking lights) for leaves, insects, anddirt stuck to the front surface. Theseblock the air flow and reduce coolingefficiency. Use a light spray from ahose or a soft brush to remove them.

The condenser and radiator fins bendeasily. Only use a low-pressure sprayor soft-bristle brush to clean them.

Run the air conditioner at least oncea week during the cold weathermonths. Run it for at least tenminutes while you are driving at asteady speed with the engine atnormal operating temperature. Thiscirculates the lubricating oil, con-tained in the refrigerant, through theair conditioning system.

If the air conditioner does not get ascold as before, it is probably becausesome of the refrigerant has leakedfrom the system. Have your dealercheck the system for leaks andrecharge the system with 33.5-35 oz.(950-1000 g) of Refrigerant 12 (R-12).

Whenever you have the air condition-ing system serviced, make sure theservice facility uses a refrigerantrecycling system. This systemcaptures the refrigerant for reuse.Releasing refrigerant into the atmos-phere can damage the environment.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Engine Belts, Tires

Engine Belts

You should check the condition ofthe two engine belts every sixmonths. Examine the edges of eachbelt for cracks or fraying. Check thetension of each belt by pushing on itat the point shown in the diagram.

The belts should have the follwing"play" or deflection.Alternator belt:

one-half in. (12-14 mm)Compressor belt:

seven-sixteenths in. (10-12 mm)

If you see signs of wear or looseness,have your dealer adjust or replace thebelts. Your dealer will check thesebelts as part of the normal scheduledmaintenance.

TiresCheck the inflation and condition ofyour car's tires at least once a month.

InflationCheck the pressure in the tires whenthey are cold. This means the carhas been parked for at least threehours. If you have to drive the carbefore checking the tire pressure,the tires can still be considered"cold" if you drive less than one mile.If you check the pressure when thetires are hot (the car has been drivenseveral miles), you will see readings4 to 6 lb/ in 2 higher than the coldreading. This is normal. Do not letair out to match the specified coldpressure. The tire will be underin-flated.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Tires

The correct cold tire pressures are:Front — 33 psi (230 kPa)Rear — 40 psi (275 kPa)

These pressures are also given onthe tire information label on the jambof the driver's door. Use the pres-sure gauge that came with your carevery time you check the tires. Thatmakes it easier for you to tell if apressure loss is due to a tire problemand not a variation between gauges.

Keeping the tires properly inflatedprovides you with the best combina-tion of riding comfort, handling andtread life. Underinflated tires wearunevenly, reduce you car's handling,and are more likely to fail because ofhigher temperatures. Overinflatedtires make your car ride moreharshly, are more prone to damagefrom road hazards, and wear un-evenly.

InspectionEvery time you check inflation, youshould also examine the tires fordamage, foreign objects, and wear.

You should look for:

Bumps or bulges in the tread orside of the tire. Replace the tire ifyou find either of these conditions.

Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side ofthe tire. Replace the tire if you cansee fabric or cord.

Excessive tread wear.

Maintenance

Tires

Your car's tires have wear indicatorsmolded into the tread. When thetread wears down to that point, youwill see a 1/2 inch wide band runningacross the tread. This shows there isless than 1/16 inch of tread left onthe tire. A tire that is this worn givesvery little traction on wet roads. Youshould replace the tire if you can seethe tread wear indicator in three ormore places around the tire.

MaintenanceIn addition to proper inflation, correctwheel alignment helps to decreasetire wear. You should get your car'swheel alignment checked every 12months or 12,000 miles.

The tires were properly balanced bythe factory. They may need to berebalanced at some time before theyare worn out. Have your dealer checkthe tires if you feel a consistentvibration while driving. If you have agood tire removed from the wheeland later mounted, you shouldalways have it rebalanced.

Make sure the installer balances thewheels when you have new tiresinstalled. This increases ridingcomfort and tire life.

Improper wheel weights can damageyour car's aluminum wheels. Useonly genuine NSX wheel weights forbalancing.

Tire RotationYou should not rotate your NSX'stires. The front wheels are 15"diameter and the rear wheels are 16"so they cannot be rotated front-to-rear. The original-equipment tireson your NSX have a unidirectionaltread pattern, so they cannot berotated side-to-side.

Replacing TiresThe tires that came with your Acurawere selected to match the perform-ance capabilities of the car andprovide the best combination ofhandling and ride comfort.If a tire becomes damaged, youshould replace it, not repair it. Arepaired tire will have lower perform-ance limits. You should replace tireswith radial tires of the same size, loadrange, and speed rating as the origi-nal tires. Mixing radial and bias-plyor bias-belted tires on your car canreduce its braking ability, traction,and steering accuracy.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

NOTICE

Tires

It is best to replace all four tires atthe same time. If that is not possibleor necessary, then replace the twofront tires or the two rear tires as apair. Replacing just one tire can seri-ously affect your car's handling.

If you ever need to replace a wheel,make sure you use the same alumi-num alloy wheel that originally cameon your NSX. Replacement wheelsare available at your Acura dealer.

Wheels and Tires

Wheel Sizes:Front — 15 x 6 1/2 JJRear — 16 x 8 JJ

Tire Sizes:Front — 205/50ZR15Rear — 225/50ZR16

DOT Tire Quality GradingThe tires on your car meet all U.S.Federal Safety Requirements. Alltires are also graded for treadwear,traction, and temperature perform-ance according to Department ofTransportation (DOT) standards.The following explains these grad-ings.

TreadwearThe treadwear grade is a comparativerating based on the wear rate of thetire when tested under controlledconditions on a specified governmenttest course. For example, a tiregraded 150 would wear one and onehalf (1-1/2) times as well on thegovernment course as a tire graded100. The relative performance oftires depends upon the actual condi-tions of their use, however, and maydepart significantly from the normdue to variations in driving habits,service practices and differences inroad characteristics and climate.

TractionThe traction grades, from highest tolowest, are A,B, and C, and theyrepresent the tire's ability to stop onwet pavement as measured undercontrolled conditions on specifiedgovernment test surfaces of asphaltand concrete. A tire marked C mayhave poor traction performance.

Warning: The traction grades as-signed are based on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does notinclude cornering (turning) traction.

Maintenance

Tires

TemperatureThe temperature grades are A (thehighest), B, and C, representing thetire's resistance to the generation ofheat and its ability to dissipate heatwhen tested under controlled condi-tions on specified indoor laboratorytest wheel. Sustained high tempera-ture can cause the material of the tireto degenerate and reduce tire life,and excessive temperature can leadto sudden tire failure. The grade Ccorresponds to a level of performancewhich all passenger car tires mustmeet under the Federal MotorVehicle Safety Standard No. 109.Grades B and A represent higherlevels of performance on the labora-tory test wheel than the minimumrequired by law.

Warning: The tire temperature gradeis established for a tire that is prop-erly inflated and not overloaded. Ex-cessive speed, underinflation, or ex-cessive loading, either separately orin combination, can cause heatbuildup and possible tire failure.

Winter TiresYou should mount winter tires onyour NSX before winter starts (beforeconsistent sub-freezing tempera-tures). Change back to "summer"tires after winter weather hasstopped.

Use winter tires on all four wheels.The performance capabilities of thewinter tires may not be the same asyour car's original-equipment tires.Check with the tire dealer for maxi-mum speed recommendations.

The winter tire sizes are:205/50R15 (front)225/50R16 (rear)

Tire ChainsUse snow chains only in an emer-gency or when they are legally re-quired for driving through a certainarea. Use greater caution whendriving with snow chains on snow orice. They may have less-predictablehandling than good winter tireswithout chains. Some snow chainsmay damage the car's tires, wheels,suspension and body. Consult yourAcura dealer before purchasing anytype of chains for your NSX.

Maintenance

Lights

Check the operation of your car'sexterior lights at least once a month.A burned out bulb can create anunsafe condition by reducing yourcar's visibility and the ability to signalyour intentions to other drivers.Check the following:

Headlights (low and high beam)Parking lightsTail lightsBrake lightsTurn signalsBack-up lightsHazard light functionLicense plate lightSide marker lights

If you find any bulbs are burned out,replace them as soon as possible.Refer to the chart on page 209 todetermine what type of replacementbulb is needed.

Replacing a Headlight BulbYour car has two bulbs on each side,four in total. Make sure you arereplacing the bulb that is burned out.Your car uses halogen headlightbulbs. When replacing a bulb, handleit by its plastic case and protect theglass from contact with your skin orhard objects. If you touch the glass,clean it with denatured alcohol and aclean cloth.

Halogen headlight bulbs get very hotwhen lit. Oil, perspiration, or ascratch on the glass can cause thebulb to overheat and shatter.

1. Lift the hood and remove thecover from the front compartmentfuse box.

2. Use the label on the fuse boxcover to locate the fuse for theheadlight motor. Remove the fusewith the fuse remover located inthe interior fuse box.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Lights

3. Remove the cover from the backof the burned-out bulb by turningit counterclockwise.

4. Remove the electrical connectorfrom the bulb by grasping itbetween your thumb and fingersand pushing downward while youwiggle it slightly. Make sure youpull on the connector, not thewires.

5. Unclip the end of the hold-downwire from its slot. Pivot the wireup out of the way and remove thebulb.

6. Insert the new bulb into the hole,making sure all the tabs are inplace. Pivot the hold-down wireover the end of the bulb and clipthe end back into the slot.

7. Push the electrical connectorback onto the bulb. Make sure itis on all the way.

8. Replace the bulb cover. Line upthe three tabs, push the cover in,and turn it clockwise until it locks.

9. Reinstall the headlight motorfuse.

10. Test the headlights.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Lights

Replacing a Front Turn Signal orParking Light Bulb

1. Use a phillips-head screwdriver toremove the turn signal assembly'smounting screw.

2. Remove the turn signal assemblyfrom the bumper. Remove theelectrical connector from the bulbholder by squeezing the connectorand pulling.

3. Remove the bulb holder from theturn signal assembly by turning itone-quarter turn to the left.

4. Remove the burned out bulb fromthe socket. Install the new bulb.

5. Push the bulb holder into the turnsignal assembly and turn it clock-wise until it locks.

6. Reconnect the electrical connectorto the bulb holder.

7. Test the turn signals to make surethe new bulb is working.

8. Put the turn signal assembly intothe bumper. Install and tightenthe mounting screw.

Maintenance

Lights

Replacing Side Marker Bulbs

1. Use your fingernail to lift therubber seal along the back edge ofthe side marker lens.

2. Use a small flat blade screwdriverunder the rubber seal to prycarefully on the back edge of theside marker assembly until it popsout of the body.

3. Remove the electrical connectorfrom the bulb holder by squeezingthe connector and pulling themapart.

4. Turn the bulb holder one-quarterturn counterclockwise to remove itfrom the lens.

5. Pull the bulb straight out of itssocket. Push the new bulb straightinto the socket until it bottoms.

6. Put the bulb holder back into itshole in the lens, and turn it clock-wise until it locks.

7. Plug the wire harness back intothe bulb holder.

8. Turn on the parking lights andcheck that the new bulb is work-ing.

9. Put the side marker assemblyback into the body, front first.Push on the back edge until itsnaps into place.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Lights

Replacing Bulbs in the Rear

The bulbs for the taillights, brakelights rear, turn signals, and back-uplights are reached by pulling downthe rear trunk liner.

1. Determine which bulb in thetaillight assembly is burned out.

2. Remove the socket from thetaillight assembly by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwiseand pulling it outward.

3. Remove the bulb by turning it one-quarter turn to the left and pullingit out of the socket.

4. Install the new bulb in the socket.

5. To reinstall the socket, line up thetabs on the socket with the slots inthe taillight, push the socket intothe hole, and turn it clockwiseuntil it locks.

6. Test the lights to make sure thenew bulb is working.

Maintenance

Lights

Replacing the Rear license Bulb

1. Use a phillips-head screwdriver toremove the two outer screwsholding the license plate lightassembly to the bumper bracket.Pull the assembly away from thebracket.

2. Remove the socket from the lightassembly by turning it one-halfturn to the right.

3. Pull the bulb out of the socket.

4. Install the new bulb.

5. Turn on the parking lights andmake sure the new bulb is work-ing. Reinstall the license plateassembly on the bumper bracketwith the same two screws.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Lights

Replacing Bulbs in the InteriorCourtesy Lights

The courtesy lights in the doors, roof,and under the dashboard come apartthe same way. They do not all usethe same bulb.

1. Remove the lens by carefullyprying on the edge with yourfingernail or a small flat-tip screw-driver. The two lenses on the roof-mounted interior light come out asa unit.

2. Remove the bulb by pulling itstraight out of its metal tabs.

3. Push the new bulb into the metaltabs. Snap the lens back in place.

Maintenance

Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for anextended period (more than 1month), there are several things youshould do to prepare it for storage.Proper preparation helps preventdeterioration and makes it easier toget your car back on the road. It isbest to store your car dry indoors if atall possible.

Fill the gas tank.

Change oil and filter.

Dry the interior and the exteriorcompletely, if the car is to bewashed or cleaned before storage.

Clean the interior. Make sure thecarpeting, floor mats, etc. arecompletely dry.

Leave the parking brake off. Putthe transmission in Reverse (5-speed) or Park (automatic).

Block the rear wheels.

If the car is to be stored for alonger period, it should be sup-ported on jackstands so the tiresare off the ground.

Leave one window open slightly (ifthe car is being stored indoors).

Disconnect the battery.

Cover the car with a "breathable"car cover, one made from a porousmaterial such as cotton. Nonporousmaterials, such as plastic sheeting,trap moisture which can damagethe paint.

If possible, run the engine for awhile periodically (preferably oncea month).

If you store your car for 12 months orlonger, have your Acura dealerperform only the inspections calledfor in the 24 months/30,000 milesmaintenance schedule as soon as youtake it out of storage (see page 121).The replacements called for in themaintenance schedule are notneeded unless the car has actuallyreached that time or mileage.

Maintenance

Appearance Care

Frequent cleaning and polishing ofyour NSX helps to keep it "new" look-ing. This section gives you hints onhow to clean and preserve your car'sappearance: the paint, brightwork,wheels, and interior. Also includedare several things you can do to helpprevent corrosion.

Exterior Care ................................ 168Washing.................................... 168Waxing...................................... 169Aluminum Wheels .................. 169Paint Touch-up ........................ 170

Interior Care ................................ 171Carpeting.................................. 171Fabric........................................ 171Vinyl.......................................... 171Leather...................................... 171Windows .................................. 171

Corrosion Protection.................... 172Body Repairs ................................ 173

Appearance Care

Exterior Care

Although the exterior panels on yourNSX are made of hardened alumi-num, they may dent more easily thansteel under some conditions. Exer-cise care when leaning on or overany part of the body.

WashingFrequent washing helps preserveyour car's beauty. Dirt and grit canscratch the paint, while tree sap andbird droppings can permanently ruinthe finish.

Wash your car in a shady area, not indirect sunlight. If the car is parked inthe sun, move it into the shade andlet the exterior cool down before youstart.

Chemical solvents and strong clean-ers can damage the paint, metal andplastic on your car. Only use thesolvents and cleaners recommendedin this Owner's Manual.

Rinse the car thoroughly with coolwater to remove loose dirt.

Fill a bucket with cool water. Mixin a mild detergent, such as dish-washing liquid or a product madeespecially for car washing.

Wash the car, using the water anddetergent solution and a soft-bristlebrush, sponge or soft cloth. Start atthe top and work your way down.Rinse frequently.

Check the body for road tar, treesap, etc. Remove these stains withtar remover or turpentine. Rinse itoff immediately so it does not harmthe finish. Remember to re-waxthese areas, even if the rest of thecar does not need waxing.

When you have washed and rinsedthe whole exterior, dry it with achamois or soft towel. Letting itair-dry will cause dulling and waterspots.

As you dry the car, inspect it forchips and scratches that could allowcorrosion to start. Repair them withtouch-up paint (see page 170).

Appearance Care

NOTICE NOTICE

Exterior Care

WaxingWash and dry the whole car beforewaxing it. You should wax your car,including the metal trim, wheneverwater sits on the surface in largepatches. It should form into beads ordroplets after waxing.

You should use a quality liquid orpaste wax. Apply it according to theinstructions on the container. Ingeneral, there are two types ofproducts:

Waxes — A wax coats the finish andprotects it from damage by exposureto sunlight, air pollution, etc. Youshould use a wax on your NSX whenit is new.

Polishes — Polishes and cleaner/waxes can restore the shine to paintthat has oxidized and lost some of itsshine. They normally contain mildabrasives and solvents that removethe top layer of the finish. Youshould use a polish on your NSX ifthe finish does not have its originalshine after using a wax.

Cleaning tar, insects, etc. withremovers also takes off the wax.Remember to re-wax those areas,even if the rest of the car does notneed waxing.

Aluminum WheelsClean your Acura's aluminum alloywheels as you do the rest of theexterior. Wash them with the samesolution, and rinse them thoroughly.

The wheels have a protective clear-coat that keeps the aluminum fromcorroding and tarnishing. Usingharsh chemicals, including somecommercial wheel cleaners, or stiffbrushes can damage this clear-coat.Only use a mild detergent and softbrush or sponge to clean the wheels.

CONTINUED

Appearance Care

Exterior Care

Paint Touch-up

Your dealer has touch-up paint tomatch your car's color. The colorcode is printed on a sticker on thedriver's door jamb. Take this code toyour dealer so you are sure to get thecorrect color. Although bare alumi-num does not "rust" like bare metal,it will corrode and turn to dull gray ifleft unprotected.

Inspect your car for chipped orscratched paint every time you washit. Repair it as soon as possible toprevent corrosion. Use the touch-uppaint on small chips and scratches.More extensive damage should berepaired by a professional.

Examine the chip or scratch closelybefore repairing it. If it does not godown to bare metal, clean it with soapand water and apply the touch-uppaint. If it does go to the metal, applya coat of primer first. After this dries,apply the touch-up paint. Build upthe paint in the damaged area to thelevel of the surrounding paint.Several thin coats of paint are betterthan one thick coat.

Appearance Care

Interior Care

CarpetingVacuum the carpeting frequently toremove dirt. Ground-in dirt willmake the carpet wear out faster.Periodically shampoo the carpet tokeep it looking new. Use one of thefoam-type carpet cleaners on themarket. Follow the instructions thatcome with the cleaner, applying itwith a sponge or soft brush. Keepthe carpeting as dry as possible bynot adding water to the foam.

FabricVacuum dirt and dust out of thematerial frequently. For generalcleaning, use a solution of mild soapand lukewarm water, letting it air dry.To clean off stubborn spots, use acommercially-available fabric cleaner.Test it on a hidden area of the fabricfirst, to make sure it does not bleachor stain the fabric. Follow the in-structions that come with the cleaner.

VinylRemove dirt and dust with a vacuumcleaner. Wipe the vinyl with a softcloth dampened in a solution of mildsoap and water. Use the samesolution with a soft-bristle brush onmore difficult spots. You can also usecommercially-available spray or foam-type vinyl cleaners.

LeatherVacuum dirt and dust from theleather frequently. Pay particularattention to the pleats and seams.Clean the leather with a soft clothdampened with clear water, then buffit with a clean, dry cloth. If furthercleaning is needed, use a soapspecifically for leather, such assaddle soap. Apply this soap with adamp, soft cloth. Wipe down and buffas described above.

WindowsClean the windows, inside and out,with a commercially-available glasscleaner. You can also use a mixtureof one part white vinegar to ten partswater. This will remove the haze thatbuilds up on the inside of the win-dows. Use a soft cloth or papertowels to clean all glass and clearplastic surfaces.

The rear window defogger andantenna wires are bonded to theinside of the glass. Wiping vigor-ously up-and-down can dislodge andbreak these wires. When cleaningthe rear window, use gentle pressureand wipe side-to-side.

Appearance Care

NOTICE

Corrosion Protection

Two factors normally contribute tocausing corrosion in your car:

1. Moisture trapped in body cavities.Dirt and road salt that collects inhollows on the underside of thecar stays damp, promoting corro-sion in that area.

2. Removal of paint and protectivecoatings from the exterior andunderside of the car.

Many corrosion-preventive measuresare built into your Acura. You canhelp by performing some simpleperiodic maintenance:

Repair chips and scratches in thepaint as soon as you discover them.

Inspect and clean out the drainholes in the bottom of the doorsand body.

Check the floor coverings fordampness. Carpeting and floormats may remain damp for a longtime, especially in winter. Thisdampness can eventually cause thefloorpanels to corrode.

Use a high-pressure spray to cleanthe underside of your car. This isespecially important in areas thatuse road salt in winter. It is also agood idea in humid climates andareas subject to salt air. Be carefulof the anti-lock brake systemsensors and wiring at each wheel.

Have the corrosion-preventivecoatings on the underside of yourcar inspected and repaired periodi-cally.

Appearance Care

Body Repairs

The entire body and undercarriage ofyour NSX is made of aluminum.Aluminum has different propertiesthan steel, so special techniques arerequired to do successful bodyrepair.

Acura recognizes the uniqueness ofthe NSX. Many dealers and otherbody repair facilities have been giventhe special training and equipmentneeded to do professional repairs onyour car. If your NSX ever needsbody repair, contact the AcuraCustomer Relations Office for thelocation of a facility near you.

Repair facilities approved by Acurawill use genuine replacement bodyparts. That may not be the case if youtake your car somewhere else. Makesure the replacement body parts aregenuine Acura body parts. Somecompanies make parts that seem toduplicate the original Acura bodyparts, but are inferior in fit, finish,and quality. In our experience, theseparts do not fit as well and do nothave as high a level of corrosionresistance.

Inspect areas of the body that havebeen repaired rather than replaced.Try to look at the inside surfaces.Make sure the repair includedreapplication of corrosion-preventivecoatings. Bare metal corrodes veryfast.

If you have any doubts about re-placed or repaired body parts andwhether corrosion-prevention mea-sures were used during the repair,take the car to your Acura dealer forinspection.

Appearance Care

Taking Care of the Unexpected

Things sometimes go wrong. Thissection can help you with ideas onwhere to look and what to do if youhave a problem with your car. Withthis information, you may be able toget going again. If not, you will alsofind instructions on getting your cartowed.

If You Have A Flat Tire ................ 176Changing A Flat Tire................ 176Storing The Folding

Spare Tire.............................. 183Air Pump.................................... 186Folding Spare Tire.................... 186

If Your Engine Won't Start .......... 188Nothing Happens...................... 188The Starter Operates

Normally................................ 189Jump Starting ................................ 189If Your Engine Overheats ............ 192Low Oil Pressure .......................... 194Charging System Indication ........ 195Getting The Headlights To

Pop Up.................................... 196Fuses.............................................. 197

Checking and Replacing.......... 199If Your Car Gets Stuck ................ 201Towing .......................................... 202

Taking Care Of The Unexpected

If You Have A Flat Tire

If you have a flat tire while driving,stop in a safe place to change it.Stopping in traffic or on the shoulderof a busy road is dangerous. Driveslowly along the shoulder until youget to an exit or an area to stop that isfar away from the traffic lanes.

Changing A Flat Tire

1. Park the car on firm, level groundaway from traffic. Turn on thehazard warning lights and turn theignition to Lock (0).

2. Put the transmission in Park(automatic) or Reverse (5-speed).Set the parking brake.

3. Open the hood (see page 97).Unscrew the wing bolt holding thefolding spare tire. Remove thefolding spare tire from the com-partment. The wing bolt and wheelmay be very warm from the airpassing through the radiator. Usea cloth or gloves (not provided) toprotect your hands when removingthe spare tire.


The car can easily roll off thejack, seriously injuring anyoneunderneath.

Follow the directions forchanging a tire exactly, andnever get under the car when itis supported only by the jack.


4. Open the trunk (see page 42). Liftthe cover; remove the jack, wheelwrench, extension, air pump, pres-sure gauge and screwdriver fromthe trunk. The tools may becomevery hot while the car is beingdriven. Wear gloves or use aprotective cloth when handling thetools.

5. Place the air pump near the flattire. Open the nearest window,and route the air pump's powercord through the open window.

CONTINUED


The radiator's electric fan runsautomatically, even with theignition off. Keep your handsand arms away from this fanwhen removing the spare tire.

ABHIJEET


6. Remove the cigarette lighter fromits socket and plug the power cordend into the socket. Make sure thekey is in the ignition switch atLock (0).

7. Remove the center cap from thewheel with the screwdriver.Use a cloth as shown to protect thecap and wheel.

8. Loosen the five wheel nuts 1/2turn with the wheel wrench.



9. Locate the jacking point nearestthe wheel you are removing byfinding the arrow on the side ofthe body. Place the jack under thejacking point, then raise it by handby turning the end bracket clock-wise. Make sure the top of the jackfits exactly into the jacking point.

Garage-type floor jacks and jacks ofsimilar design can damage your car'sunderbody, even if they are locatedon the jacking point. Only use thescissors jack that comes with yourNSX to raise the car.

10. Use the extension and wheelwrench as shown to raise the caruntil the flat tire is off the ground.

CONTINUED


NOTICE


11. Remove the wheel nuts and flattire.

12. Before you put on the foldingspare tire, wipe any dirt off themounting surface of the brakehub and the wheel. This willassure a tight, even contactbetween the wheel and hub.

13. Put on the folding spare tire withthe air valve toward the bottom.Put the wheel nuts back on finger-tight, then tighten them in a criss-cross pattern with the wheelwrench so the wheel is firmlyagainst the hub. Do not try totighten them fully. Inflate thefolding spare tire only when it is onthe car. Inflating it while it is lyingon the ground may trap stones orother foreign matter between thetire and the wheel rim.



14. Unscrew the valve cap from thefolding spare tire's air valve byturning it counterclockwise. Thenscrew on the air pump hose.

15. Reach into the car and turn theignition switch to Accessory (I).This will start the air pump toinflate the tire.

Do not climb into the car when it ison the jack. You could cause the carto roll off the jack, damaging thesuspension and body.

16. After about five minutes, unscrewthe air pump hose and check thepressure with the suppliedpressure gauge.Inflate to:

Front — 26 psi (1.8 kg/cm2, 180kPa)

Rear — 32 psi (2.2 kg/cm2, 220kPa)

CONTINUED


NOTICE


17. When finished, reach in and turnthe ignition switch to Lock (0).Unplug the air pump power cord.

18. Screw the valve cap on the valvetightly with your hands.

19. Lower the car to the ground andremove the jack.



20. Tighten the wheel nuts securelyin the same crisscross pattern.Have the wheel nut torquechecked at the nearest automotiveservice facility.Tighten the wheel nuts to:

80 lb. ft (108 N.m)

21. Store the jack, wheel wrench,extension, air pump, pressuregauge, screwdriver and flat tire inthe trunk. Temporarily keep thewing bolt and center cap in thetrunk as well. See ReplacingTires on page 155 for tire replace-ment.

Storing the Folding Spare TireBefore returning the folding sparetire to its compartment, you must letout all the air. It will fold back to itsoriginal space saving shape.

The folding spare tire must be off theground when you let the air out. It isbest to deflate the folding spare tirewhile it is still mounted on the car.This prevents foreign material frombeing trapped between the wheel andtire.

1. If the folding spare tire is still onthe car, follow the instructionsunder Changing A Flat Tire toloosen the wheel nuts and jack upthe car.

CONTINUED



2. Unscrew and remove the foldingspare tire valve cap.

3. Remove the rubber cover on topof the valve cap. Use the notch onthe valve cap to unscrew the sparetire valve core until the air startscoming out.

4. As the tire deflates, it will foldback to its original shape. Whenthe air stops coming out of thetire, use the notch on the valvecap to tighten the valve core.



5. Put the rubber cap back on thevalve cap. Screw the valve capback on the folding spare tirevalve.

6. Remove the folding spare tire andinstall the original tire and wheelnuts. Lower the car and tightenthe wheel nuts securely in a criss-cross pattern. Tighten to:

80 lb. ft (108 N.m)

7. Install the center cap with thegroove closest to the valve.

CONTINUED



8. Store the folding spare tire in thefront compartment with theoutside surface of the wheelcontacting the bracket of thespare tire well. Securely tightenthe wing bolt.

Air PumpThe air pump that comes with yourNSX is designed specifically to inflatethe folding spare tire .Follow these precautions:

Connect the air pump only to a 12Vcar battery. Connecting it to anyother power source could damagethe air pump.

Applying oil to any component ofthe air pump is not necessary.

The surface of the air pump willbecome hot during use. Do nottouch the air pump while in use.

Continuous operation for more than15 minutes could damage the airpump. Let it cool down before usingit again.

Folding Spare TireYour car comes with a folding sparetire. Use this spare tire as a tempo-rary replacement only. Get yourregular tire replaced and put back onyour car as soon as you can.

Follow these precautions wheneveryou are using the folding spare tire:

Inflate or deflate the spare tire onlywhen it is on the car. Inflating it onthe ground may trap stones orother foreign matter between thetire and the wheel rim.

Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)under any circumstances.



This tire gives a harsher ride andless traction on some road surfacesthan the regular tire. Use greatercaution while driving on this tire.

The spare tire is smaller than theregular tire, reducing your car'sground clearance. Such things asroad debris and parking lot speedbumps could possibly damage theunderside of your car.

Do not take your car to an auto-matic car wash when the spare tireis mounted. Because of the re-duced ground clearance, theunderside of your car could bedamaged by the mechanism thatpulls the car through the car wash.

The wheel of the folding spare tireis designed especially to fit yourcar. Do not use your spare tire onanother car unless it is the samemake and model.

The folding spare tire can not berepaired. Special equipment isrequired to remove it from the rimand install a new tire. If it is dam-aged, replace it with a folding sparetire of the same design. New sparetires are available at your Acuradealer. The folding spare tire has a shorter

tread Me than a regular tire. Replaceit when you can see the tread wearindicator bars. The spare tire is notdesigned to be mounted on a regularwheel, and the compact wheel is notdesigned for mounting a regular tire.


If Your Engine Won't Start

Diagnosing why your engine won'tstart falls into two areas, dependingon what you hear when you turn thekey to START(III):

You hear nothing, or almost noth-ing. The engine's starter motordoes not operate at all, or operatesvery slowly.

You can hear the starter motoroperating normally, but the enginedoes not start up and run.

Nothing Happens or the StarterMotor Operates Very SlowlyWhen you turn the ignition switch toSTART (III), you do not hear thenormal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking soundor series of clicks, or nothing at all.Check these things:

Check the transmission interlock.If you have a 5-speed, the clutchpedal must be pushed all the way tothe floor or the START circuit islocked out. With an automatictransmission, it must be in Park orNeutral.

Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).Check the voltmeter reading. Turnon the headlights and check theirbrightness. If the voltmeter doesnot register and the headlights arevery dim or don't light at all, thebattery is discharged. See JumpStarting on page 189.

If the voltmeter reads normally andthe headlights are bright, turn thekey to START (III) then release it.

If the headlights do not dim, checkthe condition of the fuses (see page197). If the fuses are OK, there isprobably something wrong withthe electrical circuit for the ignitionswitch or starter motor. You willneed a qualified technician todetermine the problem, (seeTowing on page 202.)

If the headlights dim noticeably orgo out when you try to start theengine, either the battery is dis-charged or the connections arecorroded. Check the condition ofthe battery and terminal connec-tions (see page 147). You can thentry jump starting the car from abooster battery (see page 187).


If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting

The Starter Operates NormallyIn this case, the starter motor soundsnormal when you turn the key toSTART, but the engine does not run.

Are you using the proper startingprocedure? Refer to Starting theEngine on page 105.

Do you have gas? Turn the ignitionswitch to ON for a minute andwatch the fuel gauge. The low fuellevel warning light may not beworking, so you were not remindedto fill the tank.

There may be an electrical prob-lem, such as no power to the fuelpump. Check all the fuses (seepage 197).

If you find nothing wrong, get theproblem looked at by a qualifiedtechnician. See Towing on page 202.

Jump StartingIf your car's battery has run down,you may be able to start the engineby using a booster battery. Althoughthis seems like a simple procedure,there are several precautions youshould take. Follow the directionsclosely.

You cannot start an NSX with anautomatic transmission by pushing orpulling it.

To jump start your car:

1. Check the physical condition ofthe battery (see page 147). If theelectrolyte seems slushy or likeice, do not try jump starting until itthaws.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, theelectrolyte inside can freeze. At-tempting to jump start with a frozenbattery can cause it to rupture orexplode.

2. Turn off all the electrical accesso-ries: climate control, stereosystem, lights, etc. Put the trans-mission in Neutral or Park and setthe parking brake.

CONTINUED


NOTICE

A battery can explode if you donot follow the correct proce-dure, seriously injuring anyonenearby.

Keep all sparks, open flames,and smoking materials awayfrom the battery.

Jump Starting

3. Open the rear window and enginecover. Locate the engine compart-ment fuse box on the driver's sideof the compartment. Remove thefuse box cover.

4. Connect one jumper cable to thepositive ( + ) terminal on thebooster battery. Connect theother end to the JUMP STARTterminal in the fuse box.

5. Connect the second jumper cableto the negative ( — ) terminal on thebooster battery. Connect the otherend to the boss on the intakemanifold as shown. Do not connectthis jumper cable to any other partof the engine.


Jump Starting

6. If the booster battery is in anothercar, have an assistant start that carand run it at a fast idle.

7. Start your car. If it still cranksslowly, check the jumper cableconnections to make sure theyhave good metal-to-metal contact.

8. Once your car is running, discon-nect the negative cable from yourcar, then from the booster battery.Disconnect the positive cable fromyour car, then the booster battery.


If Your Engine Overheats

The pointer of your car's temperaturegauge should stay in the midrangeunder most conditions. It may goslightly high if you are driving up along steep hill on a very hot day. If itclimbs to the red mark, you shouldstop and determine the reason.

Driving with the temperature gaugepointer at the red mark can causeserious damage to your engine.

Your car can overheat for severalreasons, such as lack of coolant or amechanical problem. The onlyindication may be the temperaturegauge climbing to or above the redmark. Or you may see steam or spraycoming from under the car or enginecover. In either case, you should takeimmediate action.

1. Safely pull to the side of the road.Put the transmission in neutral orPark and set the parking brake.Turn off the climate control and allother accessories. Turn on thehazard indicators.

2. If you see steam and/or spraycoming from under the car or.engine cover, turn off the engine.

3. If you do not see steam or spray,leave the engine running andwatch the temperature gauge. Ifthe high heat is due to overloading(climbing a long, steep hill on ahot day with the A/C running, forexample), the engine should startto cool down almost immediately.If it does, wait until the tempera-ture gauge comes down to thewhite mark then continue driving.


NOTICE

Steam and spray from an over-heated engine can seriouslyscald you.

Do not open the hood orengine compartment if steamis coming out.

If Your Engine Overheats

4. If the temperature gauge stays atthe red mark, turn off the engine.

5. Wait until any signs of steam orspray go away, then open the fronthood and engine cover.

6. Look for any obvious coolantleaks, such as a split radiator hose.Everything is still extremely hot,so use caution. If you find a leak, itmust be repaired before youcontinue driving. See Towing onpage 202.

7. If you don't find an obvious leak,check the coolant level in theexpansion tank (see page 131).

8. If the expansion tank needscoolant, you will have to removethe cap. Before doing that, turn theignition switch ON and check thetemperature gauge. Remove theexpansion tank cap ONLY if thetemperature gauge pointer hascome down to normal or below thered mark and you do not hear anybubbling or gurgling noisescoming from the cooling system.

9. Use a cloth or glove to protectyour hand while removing theexpansion tank cap. Withoutpressing it downward, turn the capone-quarter turn counterclock-wise. Stop and wait for any pres-sure in the expansion tank toescape. Then press down on thecap and turn it counterclockwise toremove it.

10. Start the engine and set theclimate control to FULL AUTO at90°. Add coolant up to the MAXline on the expansion tank. If youdo not have the proper coolantmixture available, you can addplain water. Remember to havethe cooling system drained andrefilled with the proper mixture assoon as you can.

11. Run the engine and watch thetemperature gauge. If it goes backto the red mark, the engine needsrepair. (See TOWING on page202).

12. If the temperature stays normal,check the coolant level in theexpansion tank. If it has gonedown, add coolant to the MAXmark. Put the expansion tank capback on tightly.


Removing the expansion tankcap while the engine is hot cancause the coolant to spray out,seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine andradiator cool down beforeremoving the expansion tankcap.

Low Oil Pressure

The oil pressure warning light shouldnever come on when the engine isrunning. If this warning light comeson with the engine running, takeimmediate action.

Running the engine with low oilpressure can cause serious mechani-cal damage almost immediately.Turn off the engine as soon as youcan safely get the car stopped.

1. Safely pull off the road and shut offthe engine.

2. Let the car sit for a minute. Openthe engine compartment andcheck the oil level (see page 95).Although oil level and oil pressureare not directly connected, anengine that is very low on oil canlose pressure during corneringand other driving maneuvers.

3. If necessary, add oil to bring thelevel back to the full mark on thedipstick. (see page 127)

4. Start the engine and watch the oilpressure light. If the light doesnot go out within ten seconds, turnoff the engine. There is a mechani-cal problem that needs to berepaired before you can continuedriving. (See Towing on page202.)


NOTICE

Charging System Indication

The charging system light should goout after the engine starts. If it comeson brightly with the engine running,the alternator is no longer chargingthe battery.

Immediately turn off all electricalaccessories: radio, climate control,rear defogger, cruise control, etc. Trynot to use other electrically-operatedcontrols such as the power windows.Keep the engine running and takeextra care to not stall it. The startermotor uses lots of current and willdischarge the battery rapidly. Checkthe voltmeter as you drive. If there isa problem in the charging system,the voltage will gradually drop.

By eliminating as much of theelectrical load as possible, you candrive several miles before the batteryis too discharged to run the engine.Drive to a service station or garagewhere you can get technical assis-tance.


Getting The Headlights To Pop Up

If both headlights don't pop up whenyou turn them on, try the headlightmotor button on the dashboard (seepage 31). If one or both headlightsare still down, do the following:

1. Check the fuses for the headlightdoors in the underhood fuse box(see page 197). If you find a blownfuse, replace it with a spare fuseand try the headlights.

2. If no fuses are blown, or the re-placement fuse blows immediately,remove the fuse for the headlightdoor or doors that won't open.Put the cover back on the fusebox.

3. Remove the plastic cap on top ofthe headlight motor.

4. Turn the headlight motor knobclockwise. The headlight door willstart to rise. Keep turning until thedoor is fully open.

5. Put the plastic cap back on theheadlight motor with the arrowfacing forward. Do not replace theheadlight motor fuse until you canhave the car checked by thedealer.


Fuses

All the electrical circuits in your carhave fuses to protect them from ashort circuit or overload. Thesefuses are located in three fuse boxes.


Fuses

The underhood fuse box is locatedon the passenger's side of the frontcompartment. To open, push the tabas shown.

The engine compartment fuse box islocated next to the air cleaner box.To open, push the tab as shown.

The interior fuse box is underneaththe dashboard on the driver's side.To open, turn the knob as shown.


Fuses

Checking and Replacing FusesIf something electrical in your carstops working, the first thing youshould check for is a blown fuse.Determine from the chart on the fusebox cover (underhood and enginecompartment fuse boxes) or insidethe fuse box (interior fuse box)which fuse or fuses control thatcomponent. Check those fuses first,but check all the fuses before decid-ing that is not the cause. Replace anyblown fuses and check the compo-nent's operation.

1. Turn the ignition switch to Lock(0). Make sure the headlights andall other accessories are off.

2. Remove the cover from the fusebox.

3. Check each of the large fuses inthe underhood and engine com-partment fuse boxes by lookingthrough the top at the wire inside.Removing these fuses requires aphillips head screwdriver.

4. Check the smaller fuses by pullingout the fuse with the fuse pullerprovided in the interior fuse box.

CONTINUED


Fuses

5. Look for a burned wire inside thefuse. If it is burned out, replace itwith one of the spare fuses of thesame rating or lower.

If you cannot drive the car withoutfixing the problem, and you do nothave a spare fuse, take a fuse of thesame rating or a lower rating fromone of the other circuits. Make sureyou can do without that circuit tempo-rarily (such as the rear windowdefogger, or radio).If you replaced the burned out fusewith a spare fuse that has a lowerrating, it might blow out again.This does not indicate anythingwrong. Replace the fuse with thecorrect rating as soon as you can.

Replacing a fuse with one that has ahigher rating greatly increases thechances of damaging the electricalsystem. If you do not have a replace-ment fuse with the proper rating forthe circuit, install one with a lowerrating.

6. If the replacement fuse of thesame rating burns out in a shorttime, there is probably a seriouselectrical problem in your car.Leave the burned out fuse in thatcircuit and have your car checkedby a qualified technician.


NOTICE

If Your Car Gets Stuck

If your car gets stuck in sand, mud,or snow, call a towing service to pullit out. (See page 202)

"Rocking" your car between forwardand reverse gear or revving up theengine and allowing the wheels tospin freely at high speeds can dam-age the automatic transmission. Usea tow service to prevent transmissiondamage.

For very short distances such asfreeing the car, you can use the tie-down hook on the lower right of thefront bumper. Remove the cover toexpose the hook. This hook is not foropen-road towing (see Towing, page202).


NOTICE

Towing

If your car needs to be towed, call aprofessional towing service or, if youbelong to one, an organization thatprovides roadside assistance. Nevertow your car behind another car withjust a rope or chain. It is very danger-ous.

Emergency TowingThere are three popular methods oftowing a car:

Flat-bed Equipment — The operatorloads your car on the back of a truck.This is the only recommendedway of towing your NSX.

Wheel Lift Equipment — The tow truckuses two pivoting arms which gounder the tires (front or rear) and liftthem off the ground. The other twowheels remain on the ground. Thistowing method is not recommended.Because of your car's low groundclearance, the body can be damagedgoing over large bumps or up in-clines.

Sling-type Equipment — The tow truckuses metal cables with hooks on theends. These hooks go around parts ofthe frame or suspension and thecables lift that end of the car off theground. Damage to your car's sus-pension and body is almost certain ifthis method of towing is attempted.

If your NSX cannot be towed by flat-bed, it should be towed with the rearwheels off the ground. If, due todamage, your car must be towed withthe rear wheels on the ground, do thefollowing:

Release the parking brake.

Shift the 5-speed transmission toNeutral.

If your car has an automatic trans-mission, start the engine. Shift thetransmission to Drive, then intoNeutral, then shut off the engine.

Improper towing preparation willdamage the transmission. Follow theabove procedure exactly. If youcannot start the engine or shift thetransmission, your car must be towedon a flat-bed.

It is best to tow the car no fartherthan 50 miles, and keep the speedbelow 35 mph.

Trying to lift or tow your car by thebumpers will cause serious damage.The bumpers are not designed tosupport the car's weight.


NOTICE

NOTICE

Technical Information

The charts in this section give youthe locations of the identificationnumbers, and the dimensions andcapacities of your NSX. The technicalexplanations of several electronic andmechanical systems on your NSX arefor the more technically-orientedowner.

Identification Numbers................ 206Specifications ................................ 208Anti-Lock Brake System .............. 210Traction Control System.............. 211Supplemental Restraint System . 212Emission Controls ........................ 213

The Clean Air Act .................... 213Crankcase Emission Control

System.................................... 213Evaporative Emission Control

System.................................... 213Exhaust Emission Controls .... 213PGM-FI System ........................ 214Ignition Timing Control

System.................................... 214Exhaust Gas Recircuration

(EGR) .................................... 214Catalytic Converter .................. 214Replacement Parts.................... 214

Catalytic Converter ...................... 215


Identification Numbers

Your car has several identifyingnumbers located in various places.

The Vehicle Identification Number(VIN) is the 17-digit number yourAcura dealer uses to register your carfor warranty purposes. It is alsonecessary for licensing and insuringyour car. The easiest place to find theVIN is on a plate fastened to the topof the dashboard. You can see it bylooking through the windshield onthe driver's side. It is also on theCertification label attached to thedriver's door jamb, and is stamped onthe engine compartment bulkheadbehind the engine. The VIN is alsoprovided in bar code on the certifica-tion label.


Identification Numbers

The Engine Number is stamped onthe back left corner of the engineblock, below the rear valve cover.

The Transmission Number is on alabel on top of the transmission.


Specifications

*1 : Including the coolant in the expansion tank (2.2 US qt/2.1 ) and thatremaining in the engine.

*2: Excluding the oil remaining in the engine, but including that in the oilfilter.


Dimensions Capacities

Weights

Specifications


Lights Engine

Alignment

Battery

Fuses

Tires

page 144

Anti-Lock Brake System

The Anti-lock brake system works bymeasuring and comparing how fastthe wheels are turning duringbraking. If any wheel is rotatingmuch slower than the others (on theverge of locking up and skidding),the system reduces hydraulic pres-sure to that wheel's brake caliper.When that wheel's speed matchesthe other wheels, the system appliesnormal hydraulic pressure. This cantake place several times per secondat each wheel. You feel the Anti-lockbrake system working as rapid pulsa-tions in the brake pedal under veryhard braking.

Each wheel has a wheel speed sensorassembly. As the wheel rotates, itsends electrical pulses to the Anti-lock brake system control unit. Thiscontrol unit compares the frequen-cies of the four sets of pulses.

The Anti-lock brake system controlunit uses the modulator/solenoidunit to regulate the hydraulic pres-sure of the braking system. Whenthe control unit detects a wheellocking-up, it energizes the appropri-ate solenoid in the modulator/solenoid unit. There are four sole-noids: one for each wheel. Theenergized solenoid reduces hydraulicpressure to one side of a modulatorvalve. This, in turn, reduces hydrau-lic pressure in the brake line going tothe affected wheel. When thatwheel's speed is correct, the controlunit de-energizes the solenoid. Thisbuilds hydraulic pressure on themodulator valve. The pressureincreases in the hydraulic line to thewheel.

For the system to react quickly, themodulator/solenoid unit must havebrake fluid under high pressure.This is supplied by a diaphragm-typeaccumulator that is pressurized by anelectric pump. A pressure-sensingswitch on the accumulator controlsthis pump.

The control unit also contains errordetection circuitry. The control unitmonitors the operation of the wheelsensors, solenoids, pump, andelectronics. If the control unitdetects any faults, it shuts off powerto the pump motor and solenoids.The ANTILOCK light on the instru-ment panel comes on. The brakesthen work like a conventional systemwithout the Anti-lock brake system.


Traction Control System

The TCS works on the same speed-sensing principles as the Anti-lockbrake system. The TCS monitors thespeed of the wheels during accelera-tion. If one drive wheel starts to spinfaster than the other, or both drivewheels spin faster than the frontwheels,the TCS reduces enginepower to minimize wheelspin.

The TCS uses the same four wheelspeed sensor assemblies used by theAnti-lock brake system. An addi-tional sensor measures steering-wheel-angle. This measures how farthe front wheels are turned, if at all.The TCS control unit receives thesignals from these sensors.

When the TCS senses wheelspin, thecontrol unit determines how muchslippage to allow based on thedifference in wheel speeds and thesteering angle. It then controls thethrottle and signals the engine'sECU to regulate ignition timing andfuel flow. This reduces availableengine power.

The control unit monitors the TCScircuitry while driving. If it senses aproblem, the TCS indicator light onthe instrument panel goes on. Thesystem will then be turned off.



The SRS includes the steering wheelairbag assembly, two sensors in thedashboard and a control unit withtwo more sensors under the dash-board.

The four sensors are decelerometers,set to trigger in a frontal impact thatgenerates more force than a 10 mileper hour barrier crash. For the SRSto activate, at least one dashboardsensor AND one control unit sensormust trigger. This duplication is toprevent accidental activation.

When the control unit receivessignals from two sensors, it sendsvoltage to the airbag. Even if asevere impact damages the car'sbattery or electrical connections, thecontrol unit keeps reserve power in acapacitor.

The electrical signal to the airbagassembly ignites its propellant, whichburns instantaneously. The gasproduced by the burning propellantinflates the airbag in about 40 milli-seconds (1/25 of a second).

The airbag is vented so it staysinflated for only an instant and doesnot block the driver's vision. Smokeand powder from the burned propel-lant comes out of the airbag and intothe car's interior. This is normal anddoes not mean there is a fire. Theairbag collapses onto the driver's lap.

The airbag unit can inflate only onetime. After use, your Acura dealermust check the complete Supplemen-tal Restraint System and replace theairbag assembly.

To ensure long-term reliability, theSRS uses gold-plated electricalconnections throughout. Exposedcomponents are sealed with epoxy.The control unit monitors the SRScircuitry whenever the ignition isON. If the control unit senses anyfaults, it turns on the SRS indicatorlight on the instrument panel. Takethe car to your Acura dealer todiagnose and repair the system assoon as possible.

The SRS needs no regular mainte-nance other than an inspection byyour Acura dealer ten years aftermanufacture.


Emission Controls

The burning of gasoline in your car'sengine produces several byproducts.Some of these are carbon monoxide(CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) andhydrocarbons (HC). Gasolineevaporating from the tank alsoproduces hydrocarbons. Controllingthe production of NOx and HC isimportant to the environment. Undercertain conditions of sunlight andclimate, NOx and HC react to formphotochemical "smog." Carbon mon-oxide does not contribute to smogcreation, but it is a poisonous gas.

The Clean Air ActThe Clean Air Act sets standards forautomobile emissions. It also re-quires that automobile manufacturersexplain to owners how their emissioncontrols work and what to do tomaintain them. This section summa-rizes how tht emission controls work.Scheduled maintenance is on page42.

Crankcase Emission ControlSystemYour car has a Positive CrankcaseVentilation (PCV) System. Thiskeeps gasses that build up in theengine's crankcase from going intothe atmosphere. The PCV valveroutes them from the crankcase backto the intake manifold. They are thendrawn into the engine and burned.

Evaporative Emission ControlSystemAs gasoline evaporates in the fueltank, a canister filled with charcoaladsorbs the vapor. It is stored in thiscanister while the engine is off. Afterthe engine is started and warmed up,the vapor is drawn into the engineand burned during driving.

Exhaust Emission ControlsThe exhaust emission controlsinclude four systems: PGM-FI,Ignition Timing Control, Exhaust GasRecirculation and Catalytic Con-verter. These four systems work to-gether to control the engine's com-bustion under all driving conditionsand minimize the amount of HC, CO,and NOx that comes out the tailpipe.The exhaust emission control sys-tems are separate from the crankcaseand evaporative emission controlsystems.


Emission Controls

PGM-FI SystemThe PGM-FI System on your car hasthree subsystems: Air Intake,Electronic Control, and Fuel Control.The Electronic Control Unit (ECU)uses various sensors to determinehow much air is going into theengine. It then controls how muchfuel to inject under all operating con-ditions.

Ignition Timing Control SystemThis system constantly adjusts theignition timing, reducing the amountof HC and NOx produced.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)The EGR system takes some of theexhaust gas and routes it back intothe intake manifold. Adding the ex-haust gas to air/fuel mixture re-duces the amount of NOx producedwhen the fuel is burned.

Catalytic ConverterThe catalytic converter is in theexhaust system. Through chemicalreactions, it converts HC, CO, andNOx in the engine's exhaust tocarbon dioxide (CO2), dinitrogen(N2), and water vapor.

Replacement PartsThe emission control systems aredesigned and certified to worktogether in reducing emissions tolevels that comply with the Clean AirAct. To make sure the emissionsremain low, you should use only newgenuine Honda replacement parts ortheir equivalent for repairs. Usinglower quality parts may increase theemissions from your car.

The emissions control systems arecovered by warranties separate fromthe rest of your car. Read yourwarranty manual for more informa-tion.


Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter contains plati-num and rhodium. These metals serveas catalysts, promoting chemical reac-tions to convert the exhaust gasseswithout affecting the metals. Thecatalytic converter is referred to as athree-way catalyst, since it acts on HC,CO, and NOx. A replacement unit mustbe an original Acura part or its equiva-lent.

The catalytic converter must operateat a high temperature for the chemi-cal reactions to take place. It can seton fire any combustible materialsthat come near it. Park your caraway from high grass, dry leaves, orother flammables.

A defective catalytic convertercontributes to air pollution, and canimpair your engine's performance.Follow these guidelines to protectyour car's catalytic converter.

Always use unleaded gasoline.Even a small amount of leadedgasoline can contaminate thecatalyst metals, making the con-verter ineffective.

Keep the engine tuned-up.

Have your car diagnosed andrepaired if it is misfiring, backfir-ing, stalling, or otherwise notrunning properly.


Warranty and Customer Relations

Warranty Coverages .................... 218Customer Relations

Information................................ 219Authorized Manuals .................... 221


Warranty Coverages

Your new Acura is covered by thesewarranties:

New Car Limited Warranty —provides coverage for defects in ma-terials and workmanship for 3 yearsor 36,000 miles.

Emission Control Systems DefectsWarranty and Emissions PerformanceWarranty — these two warrantiescover your car's emission controlsystems. Time, mileage, and cover-age are conditional. Please read thewarranty manual for exact informa-tion.

Original Equipment Battery LimitedWarranty — provides coverage for 36months, with 100% coverage for thefirst 24 months.

Seat Belt Limited Warranty — cover-age is provided for the useful life ofthe car on any seat belt that fails tofunction properly.

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty —body panels that rust through fromthe inside will be repaired or re-placed for up to 36 months. There isno mileage limit.

Accessory Limited Warranty — Genu-ine Acura Accessories are coveredunder this warranty. Time andmileage limits depend on the type ofaccessory and other factors. Pleaseread your warranty manual fordetails.

Replacement Parts Limited Warranty —provides coverage for defects in ma-terials and workmanship for 12months or 12,000 miles.

Replacement Battery Limited Warranty— provides coverage for up to 36months, with 100% coverage for thefirst 12 months.

Replacement Muffler Lifetime LimitedWarranty — provides coverage for aslong as the purchaser of the mufflerowns the car.

There are restrictions and exclusionswhich apply to all these warranties.Please read the 1991 Acura NSX War-ranties booklet that came with yourcar for precise information on war-ranty coverages. Your Acura'soriginal tires are covered by theirmanufacturer. Tire warranty infor-mation is in a separate booklet.


Customer Relations Information

Customer Relations OfficeAcura dealership personnel aretrained professionals. They shouldbe able to answer any question youmay have. If you encounter a prob-lem that your dealer does not solve toyour satisfaction, please discuss itwith the dealership's management.The Service Manager or GeneralManager can help. Almost allproblems are solved in this way.

If you are dissatisfied with thedecision made by the dealership'smanagement, contact the AcuraCustomer Relations Office. You canwrite to:

Acura DivisionCustomer Relations Office

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.100 W. Alondra Blvd.Gardena, CA 90248

or telephone:(800) 382-2238

When you call or write, please giveus this information:

Vehicle Identification Number (seepage 206)Name and address of the dealerwho services your carDate of purchaseMileage on your carYour name, address, and telephonenumberA detailed description of theproblemName of the dealer who sold thecar to you


Authorized Manuals

A Factory-Authorized Manual is Available forYour Vehicle.

The following publications covering the operation andservicing of your vehicle can be obtained from HelmIncorporated, either by filling out the form or, for creditcard holders, calling toll free. For manuals prior to theyear shown below, contact Helm Incorporated, P.O. Box07280, Detroit, Michigan 48207, or call (313) 883-1430. By completing this form you can order the materials desired. You can pay by check or

money order, or charge to your credit card. Mail to Helm, Incorporated at the addressshown below.

61SL000

61SL000EL

61SL030

31SL0601

Authorized Manuals

These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

P.O. BOX 07280 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207 (313) 883-1430

Service Manual:This manual covers maintenance and recommendedprocedures for repair to engine and chassiscomponents. It is written for the Journeymanmechanic, but is simple enough for mostmechanically-inclined owners to understand.

Electrical Troubleshooting Manual:This manual complements the Service Manual byproviding in-depth troubleshooting information foreach electrical circuit in your car.

Body Repair Manual:This manual describes the procedures involved in thereplacement of damaged body parts.

Index

Accessory (Ignition KeyPosition) ...................................... 40

AccessoriesElectronic .................................... 40Installation ................................ 100

AddingAutomatic Transmission

Fluid........................................ 138Brake Fluid................................ 140Clutch Fluid .............................. 141Engine Coolant.......................... 131Engine Oil.................................. 127Manual Transmission Fluid .... 139Windshield Washer fluid.......... 137

Additives, Engine Oil .................. 128Adjustments

Mirrors ........................................ 47Seats ............................................ 44Steering Wheel............................ 35

Adult Safety Belt Usage ................. . 6Air Bag (SRS).................................. 12Air Cleaner.................................... 142Air Conditioning ............................ 54

Maintenance.............................. 152

Usage............................................ 54Air Outlets (Vents) ........................ 59Air Pressure, Tires........................ 154Air Pump........................................ 177Alarm, Anti-theft.............................. 86Alcohol and Drugs.......................... 15Alcohol in Gasoline ........................ 91Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning ...... 169Antifreeze ...................................... 131Anti-lock Brakes

Description ................................ 210Operation.................................... 113Warning Light............................ 113

Anti-theft Steering Column Lock .. 40Anti-theft System ............................ 86Appearance Care .......................... 167Ashtray ............................................ 50Audio System .................................. 64Automatic Car Washes ................ 187Automatic Climate Control

System.......................................... 54Automatic Speed Control .............. 36Automatic Transmission.............. 111

Capacity, Fluid .......................... 208Checking Fluid Level................ 138Shifting ...................................... 108

Automatic TransmissionShift Lock Release .................... 111Shift Position Indicator ............ 108

Baby, Holding A.............................. 10Backup Lamp Replacement ........ 162Battery

Charging System WarningLight.......................................... 23

Jump Starting ............................ 190Maintenance .............................. 147Specifications ............................ 209

Before Driving ................................ 89Belts, Seat.......................................... 6Body Repair .................................. 173Brakes............................................ 112

Anti-lock System........................ 113Break-in, New Linings ................ 91Fluid............................................ 140Light, Burned-out...................... 162Parking ........................................ 49System Light................................ 23Wear Indicators, Disc .............. 112

CONTINUED

Index

Brakes, Anti-lockDescription ................................ 210Operation .................................. 113Indicator Light .......................... 113

Braking System ............................ 112Break-in, New Car .......................... 91Brightness Control, Instruments ..31Brights, Headlights ........................ 30Bulb Replacement........................ 158

Back-up Lights .......................... 162Brake Lights .............................. 162Courtesy Lights ........................ 164Headlights.................................. 158License Plate Lights.................. 163Parking Lights .......................... 160Side Marker Lights .................. 161Specifications ............................ 209Turn Signal Lights .................... 160

Bulbs, Halogen.............................. 158

Cables, Jump Starting With ........ 189Capacities Chart............................ 208Carbon Monoxide in Exhaust .... 213Cargo, Loading.............................. 101Car Seats For Children .................... 9Cassette Player

Care .............................................. 77Operation...................................... 69

Catalytic Converter ...................... 215CAUTION, Explanation of .............. iiCertification Label........................ 206Chains............................................ 157Change Oil

How To ...................................... 129When To .................................... 121

Changing A Flat Tire.................... 176Changing Engine Coolant............ 132Charging System Light.................. 23Check Engine Light........................ 24Checking

Automatic Transmission Fluid. 138Battery Condition...................... 147Brake Fluid ................................ 140Clutch Fluid .............................. 141

CheckingEngine Belts .............................. 153Engine Coolant.......................... 131Engine Oil.................................. 127Fuses .......................................... 197Manual Transmission Fluid .... 139

Checklist, Before Driving ............ 104Child Restraints ................................ 9Cigarette Lighter ............................ 50CLEAN Light .................................. 77Cleaner, Air.................................... 142Cleaning ........................................ 167

Aluminum Wheels .................... 169Exterior ...................................... 168Interior........................................ 171Seat Belts........................................ 8Vinyl............................................ 171

Climate Control System ................ 54Clock, Setting The .......................... 48Clutch Fluid .................................. 141CO In The Exhaust ...................... 213Cold Weather, Starting In............ 106Compact (Folding) Spare ............ 186Consumer Information ................ 219Controls, Instruments And ............ 19

Index

CoolantAdding........................................ 131Checking.................................... 131Proper solution.......................... 131Temperature Gauge.................... 27

Courtesy Lights .............................. 51Crankcase Emission Control

System........................................ 213Cruise Control Operation .............. 36Customer Relations Office .......... 219

DANGER, Explanation of ................ iiDashboard ...................................... 21Dead Battery, What To Do .......... 189Defects, Reporting Safety .............. 17Defogger, Rear Window ................ 34Defrosting The Windows .............. 61Dexron II Automatic Transmission

Fluid............................................ 138Dimensions.................................... 208Dimming The Headlights .............. 30Dipstick

Automatic Transmission .......... 138Engine Oil.................................. 127

Directional Signals.......................... 32Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 202Disc Brake Wear Indicators ........ 112Disposal Of Used Oil.................... 130Do Not Tow A Trailer .................. 117Doors

Locking and Unlocking .............. 41Lockout Prevention .................... 42Monitor Light.............................. 24Power Door Locks ...................... 41

DOT Tire Quality Grading .......... 156Downshifting, 5-speed

Transmission ............................ 107Driving .......................................... 103

Economy ...................................... 99In A Foreign Country.................. 92In Bad Weather.......................... 116

Economy, Fuel................................ 99Emergencies On The Road.......... 175

Battery, Jump Starting .............. 189Changing A Flat Tire ................ 176Charging System Light ............ 195Checking The Fuses ................ 197Manually Opening The

Headlights.............................. 196LOW Oil Pressure Light .......... 194Overheated Engine .................. 192

Emergency Brake .......................... 49Emergency Flashers ...................... 34Emission Controls ........................ 213Engine

Check Light.................................. 24Compartment, Checking

In The........................................ 93Coolant Temperature Gauge...... 27Oil Pressure Gauge .................... 27Oil Pressure Light ...................... 23Oil, What Kind To Use.............. 128Overheating .............................. 192

CONTINUED

Index

EngineSpecifications ............................ 209

Engine Cover, Opening The.......... 93Ethanol In Gasoline........................ 91Evaporative Emission Controls ..213Exhaust Fumes .............................. 16Exhaust Gas Recirculation .......... 214Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat

Belts By........................................ 11Exterior, Cleaning The ................ 168

Fabric, Cleaning............................ 171Fan, Interior .................................... 62Fan, Radiator ................................ 177Features, Comfort And

Conveniences .............................. 53Filling The Gas Tank...................... 92Filters

Air................................................ 142Fuel ............................................ 144Oil................................................ 129

First Gear, Shifting ...................... 1075-Speed Transmission

Checking Fluid Level................ 139

5-Speed TransmissionShifting The................................ 107

Flashers, Hazard Warning ............ 34Flat Tire, Changing A .................. 176Fluids

Automatic Transmission .......... 138Brake .......................................... 140Clutch ........................................ 141Manual Transmission .............. 139Windshield Washer .................. 137

FM Stereo Radio Reception .......... 68Folding Spare Tire ........................ 186Foreign Countries, Driving In ...... 92Four-way Flashers .......................... 34Front End, Towing By Emergency

Wrecker...................................... 202Fuel .................................................. 91

Filler Door And Cap.................... 93Filter .......................................... 144Gauge............................................ 28Octane Requirement .................. 91Reserve Indicator........................ 26Tank, Filling The ........................ 92

Fuses, Checking The .................. 197

Gas Mileage, Improving ................ 99Gas Station Procedures.................. 92Gasohol............................................ 91Gasoline .......................................... 91

Containing Alcohol...................... 91Filter............................................ 144Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 26Gauge............................................ 28Octane Requirement .................. 91Tank, Filling The ........................ 92

Gauges ............................................ 27Engine Coolant Temperature .... 27Engine Oil Pressure.................... 27Fuel .............................................. 28Voltmeter...................................... 28

Gearshift Lever PositionsAutomatic Transmission .......... 1085-speed Transmission .............. 107

Glass Cleaning .............................. 171Glove Box........................................ 43

Index

Halogen Headlight Bulbs ............ 158Hazard Warning Flashers.............. 34Headlights

Emergency Operation,Manual.................................... 196

High Beam Indicator .................. 26High Beams, Turning On .......... 30Low Beams, Turning On ............ 30Monitor, Bulb .............................. 24Reminder Chime ........................ 30Replacing Halogen Bulbs ........ 158Turning On .................................. 30

Heating And Air ConditioningSystem.......................................... 54

High Altitude, Starting At............ 106High-Low Beam Switch.................. 30High Speed, Shifting At................ 108Holding A Baby .............................. 10Hood, Opening The ........................ 97Horn ................................................ 39Hot Coolant, Warning About ...... 131Hydraulic Clutch .......................... 141Hydroplaning ................................ 117

Identification Number, Vehicle .. 206If Your Car Has To Be Towed .... 202Ignition

Keys.............................................. 39Switch .......................................... 40Timing Control System ............ 214

Indicator Lights, InstrumentPanel ............................................ 22

Infant Restraint.................................. 9Inflation, Proper Tire.................... 153Inside Mirror .................................. 46Inspection, Tire ............................ 154Instrument Panel............................ 21Instrument Panel Brightness ........ 31Interior Cleaning .......................... 171Interior Lights ................................ 51Introduction ...................................... i

Jack, Tire........................................ 177Jacking Up The Car...................... 179Jump Starting ................................ 190

Keys.................................................. 39

Label, Certification........................ 206Lane Change, Signaling ................ 32Lap/Shoulder Belts.......................... 6Leaking Of Exhaust Into Car ........ 16Lighter, Cigarette............................ 50Lights

Bulb Replacement .................... 158Courtesy ...................................... 51Indicator ...................................... 22Parking ........................................ 30Turn Signal .................................. 32

Loading Cargo .............................. 101Lock (Ignition Key Position) ........ 40Locks................................................ 41

Anti-theft Steering Column ........ 40Fuel Filler Door .......................... 92Glove Box .................................... 43Power Door.................................. 41

CONTINUED

Index

LocksTrunk............................................ 42

Low Coolant Level........................ 131Low Fuel Indictor............................ 26Low Oil Pressure Warning Light.. 23Lower Gear, Downshifting To A 107Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 208Luggage ........................................ 101

Maintenance.................................. 119Periodic Items............................ 125Record ................................ 123-124Schedule ............................ 121-122

Manual Headlamp Operation,Emergency ................................ 196

Manual Transmission .................. 107Manual Transmission Fluid ........ 139Map Lights ...................................... 51Maximum Shift Speeds................ 108Meters, Gauges .............................. 27Methanol In Gasoline .................... 91Mirrors, Adjusting.......................... 46

Neutral Gear Position .................. 109New Vehicle Break-in .................... 91Normal Shift Speeds .................... 107NOTICE, Explanation Of ................ iiNumbers, Identification .............. 206

Octane Requirement, Gasoline .... 91Odometer ........................................ 28Odometer, Trip .............................. 28Oil

Change, How To........................ 129Change, When To ................... 121Checking Engine ....................... 127Pressure Gauge .......................... 27Pressure Warning Light ............ 23Selecting Proper Viscosity

Chart ...................................... 128ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 40Opening The Hood ........................ 97Opening The Engine Cover .......... 93Opening The Trunk........................ 42Operation In Foreign Countries.... 92

Outside Mirrors.............................. 47Overheating, Engine .................... 192

Panel Brightness Control .............. 31Park Gear Position........................ 109Parking Brake ................................ 49Parking Lights ................................ 30Parking Over Things That

Burn............................................ 215Polishing And Waxing.................. 168Pop-up Headlights .......................... 30Power

Door Locks .................................. 41Engine, Specifications .............. 209Mirrors ........................................ 47Seat Controls................................ 44Windows ...................................... 45

PGM-FI System ............................ 214Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts ........ 11Proper Seat Belt Usage For

Adults ............................................ 6

Index

Radiator Overheating .................. 192Radio/Cassette Sound System...... 64Rear End Towing .......................... 202Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement.. 162Rear View Mirror............................ 46Rear Window

Defogger ...................................... 34Opening The................................ 93

Reclining The Seat Backs .............. 44Recommended Shift Speeds........ 107Reminder Lights ............................ 22Replacing Seat Belts After A Crash 8Replacement Information

Air Filter .................................... 142Coolant ...................................... 132Engine Oil And Filter................ 129Fuel Filter .................................. 144Fuses .......................................... 197Light Bulbs ................................ 158Schedule .................................... 121Spark Plugs................................ 144Tires............................................ 153Wiper Blades ............................ 150

Reserve Tank, Coolant ................ 131

Restraint, Child ................................ 9Reverse Gear Position.................. 109Rotation, Tire ................................ 155

Safety Belts........................................ 6Safety Defects, Reporting .............. 17Safety Labels, Location of................ 4Reminder Light and Beeper .......... 22Seat Belts .......................................... 6

Adult Usage Of .............................. 6Tether Attachment Point............ 11Cleaning ........................................ 8Frayed Or Torn.............................. 8Inspection ...................................... 8Replacement.................................. 8Use During Pregnancy .............. 11

Seats, Adjusting The ...................... 44Securing A Child Restraint.............. 9Security Alarm System .................. 86Serial Number .............................. 206Service Intervals .......................... 120Service Manual.............................. 221Service Station Procedures............ 92Setting The Clock .......................... 48

Shift Lever Position Indicator........ 26Shifting

The Automatic Transmission .. 108The 5-Speed Transmission ...... 107

Sidemarker Lights, BulbReplacement In.......................... 161

Signaling Turns .............................. 32Snow Tires .................................... 157Solvent-type Cleaners .................. 168Sound System.................................. 64Spare Tire, Folding

Inflating ...................................... 180Specifications ............................ 209

Spark Plugs, Replacing ................ 144Specifications Charts.................... 208Speed Control................................ 108Speedometer .................................. 27SRS Indicator Light........................ 24Start (Ignition Key Position).......... 40Starting The Engine .................... 105

In Cold Weather At HighAltitude .................................. 106

With A Dead Battery ................ 189Steam Coming From Engine ...... 192

CONTINUED

Index

Steam From Under The Car........ 192Steering Wheel

Adjustments ................................ 35Anti-theft Column Lock .............. 40

Stereo Sound System .................... 64Storing Your Car .......................... 165Stuck Car ...................................... 201Supplemental Restraint System

Operation .................................... 12Servicing ...................................... 14SRS Indicator .............................. 24Technical Description .............. 212

Tachometer .................................... 27Taillights, Changing Bulbs In .... 162Taking Care Of The

Unexpected .............................. 175Tape Player...................................... 69

Operation .................................... 69Maintenance ................................ 77

TCS Indicator................................ 115

Technical DescriptionsAnti-lock Brake System ............ 210Catalytic Converter .................. 215Emission Control Systems ...... 213Supplemental Restraint

System.................................... 212Traction Control System .......... 211

Temperature Gauge ...................... 27Theft Deterrent System ................ 86Time, Setting The .......................... 48Tire Chains, Do Not Use.............. 157Tire, How To Change A Flat........ 176Tires .............................................. 153

Air Pressure .............................. 153Balancing.................................... 155Checking Wear.......................... 154Compact Spare .......................... 186DOT Tire Quality Grading ...... 156Inflation ...................................... 153Inspection .................................. 154Replacing.................................... 155Rotating ...................................... 155Snow .......................................... 157Specifications ............................ 209

Tools, Tire Changing.................... 177Torn Seat Belts.................................. 8

TowingEmergency Wrecker ................ 202A Trailer, Do Not ...................... 117

Traction Control SystemOperation.................................... 114Technical Description .............. 211

Trailer, Do Not Tow A.................. 117Transmission

Checking Fluid Level,Automatic .............................. 138

Checking Fluid Level,5-speed.................................... 139

Identification Number .............. 206Fluid Selection .......................... 138Shifting The Automatic ............ 108Shifting The 5-speed ................ 107

Treadwear...................................... 156Trip Meter .................................... 28Trunk............................................... 42

Opening The................................ 42Open Monitor Light.................... 24

Turn Signals .................................... 32

Index

Underside, Cleaning .................... 168Unexpected, Taking Care

Of The ........................................ 175Uniform Tire Quality Grading .... 156Unleaded Gasoline ........................ 91Upholstery Cleaning .................... 171Used Oil, How To Dispose Of .... 130

Vehicle Dimensions .................... 208Vehicle Identification Number.... 206Vehicle Storage ............................ 165Ventilation ...................................... 62VIN ................................................ 206Vinyl Cleaning .............................. 171Viscosity, Oil ................................ 128Voltmeter ........................................ 28

Warning Labels, Location of............ 4Warning Beepers............................ 22

Headlights On.............................. 30Key In Ignition ............................ 40Seat Belts...................................... 23

WARNING, Explanation Of ............ iiWarranty Coverages .................... 218Washer, Windshield

Checking The Fluid Level........ 137Operation...................................... 33

Washing ........................................ 168Waxing And Polishing.................. 169Wheels .......................................... 156

Alignment And Balance............ 155Adjusting The Steering .............. 35Cleaning Aluminum Alloys ...... 169Compact Spare .......................... 186Wrench ...................................... 177

WindowsCleaning .................................... 171Opening The Rear ...................... 93Operating The Power.................. 45Rear, Defogger............................ 34

WindshieldCleaning........................................ 33Defroster ...................................... 61

Wipers, WindshieldChanging Blades ...................... 150Operation...................................... 32

Worn Tires .................................... 155Wrecker, Emergency Towing ....202

Gas Station Information

Gasoline:Premium UNLEADED gasolinePump octane of 91 or higher

Gas Tank Capacity:18.5 US gal. (70 l)

Recommended Engine Oil:API SG grade "Energy ConservingI I " oilSAE 10 W — 30 viscosityFor temperatures below 32° F (0°C)Use SAE 5 W — 30

Engine Oil Capacity:including filter 5.3 US qt. (5.0 l)without filter 4.5 qt. (4.3 l)

Tire Pressure (measured cold):Front: 33 psi (2.3 kg/cm 2 , 230 kPa)Rear: 40 psi (2.8 kg/cm 2 , 275 kPa)

Folding Spare Tire Pressure:If used as a spare for eitherfront tires:26 psi (1.8 kg/cm2, 180 kPa)rear tires:32 psi (2.2 kg/cm2, 220 kPa)

Tire Size:Front: 205/50ZR15Rear: 225/50ZR16Folding Spare Tire: 165/80D15

Other Tire Information:See label on the drivers door jamb

5 Speed Transmission Oil:SAE 10 W — 30 or 10 W — 40 viscosityAPI SF or SG grade recommended

Capacity (including differential):2.9 US q t (2.7 l)

Automatic Transmission Fluid:Honda Premium Formula AutomaticTransmission Fluid or an equivalentDEXRON® II type Automatic Trans-mission Fluid (ATF)

Capacity (including differential):3.1 US qt. (2.9 l)

1991 nsx online reference owner's manual …prelude.de/nsx/owner manual - 1991.pdf1991 nsx...

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