1991 HONDA CIVIC Owners Manual

Tire Balancing
Unbalanced tires may affect handling and tire wear. A tire should
always be rebalanced after it has been dismounted from the wheel.
Your original tires were properly balanced before the car left the
factory, but may need rebalancing at some time during the life of the
tire. Tire balancing for the COMPACT spare is not necessary.
Tire Rotation
Tires may wear unevenly when used for a long time in the same position on the car. To avoid this, rotate the tires every 7,500 miles(12,000 km). If abnormal or uneven wear develops between
rotations, the cause should be found and corrected as soon as possible. The illustration shows how the tires can be rotated. The
COMPACT spare tire must not be included in tire rotation.

NOTE:

Front brake pads should be inspected for wear whenever the tires
are rotated.
Tire Traction
Worn tires or slippery road surfaces can reduce driving, cornering
and braking traction. To reduce the possibility of losing traction, slow down when the road gets slippery, replace tires when wear
indicators are visible, and KEEP TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED. FrontProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Air Conditioner Care

Condenser and Radiator
Check the engine radiator and the air conditioner condenser (in front
of the radiator) for accumulated dirt, insects or leaves. Carefully brush or hose them off to assure maximum cooling performance.
CAUTION:
Radiator and condenser fins are very thin and easily damaged; do
not bend them with the high water pressure or brush.
Compressor Drive Belt
Check the compressor belt tension monthly, during periods when
you use the air conditioner a lot.

If the engine has been running, some engine components may be

hot enough to burn you.

When pushed with 98 N (22 Ib) of force midway between thecompressor drive pulley and the engine crankshaft pulley, the belt
should deflect about:
9.0 — 11.0 mm (0.35 — 0.43 in)

CRANKSHAFTPULLEY

COMPRESSOR DRIVE PULLEYProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

System Maintenance
Run your air conditioner at least once a week for about ten minutes,
even during the off season, to lubricate the seals and the inside of

the compressor and, to verify that the system is functional.

If the air conditioner is not cooling properly, it may indicate an
undercharged system. Have your dealer check the system for leaks,
then evacuate and charge the system with refrigerant 12. Charging quantity:
850 — 950 g (30.1 — 33.6 oz)

CAUTION:
Prolonged use of an undercharged system may damage the

compressor.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Appearance Care
Interior Trim
Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
Wipe the vinyl with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Stains can be removed with a commercially available vinyl cleaner.

CAUTION:

Do not use thinner, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha or other solvents
on the interior. They are toxic, flammable and hazardous and could
damage the material you're cleaning.

Windows
A 10 to 1 mix of water and white vinegar, or a commercially
available glass cleaner may be used to clean windows and to remove

the dust film sometimes caused by the ingredients used in interior vinyls and plastics.

NOTE:

Do not put this solution in the windshield washer reservoir, it will
damage the windshield washer pump.
Be careful not to scratch or damage the defogger wires when clean-
ing the inside of the rear window; wipe the window horizontally
along the wires, not up and down.
Dry the windows with a lint-free cloth or paper towel. Keep all the
windows clean for maximum visibility.
Exterior Care

Washing
Rinse all loose dirt off the car by spraying it with lukewarm or cold

water. Do not use hot water.

Wash using a soft-bristle brush, sponge or cloth with water containing a mild detergent such as a liquid dishwashing detergent. Remove oil, tar, tree sap, etc., with tar remover or turpentine.
Remove road salt, insects, etc., with mild detergent and lukewarm
water. Any of these substances may damage the finish if left on
painted surfaces.
Rinse the car well. Promptly wipe with a chamois or soft towel toprevent water-spotting. Do not let water or soap air-dry on painted
surfaces. During wiping, inspect the surface for stone chips and scratches;
paint them with touch-up paint so they won't rust (touch-up paint

is available through your Honda dealer).
For further instructions on corrosion protection, refer to the Rust
Prevention section on following page.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Waxing

Wax the car when water will no longer "bead" on the paint.Always wash and dry the car before you wax it.Use a good quality liquid or paste wax, and follow the manufacturer's
instructions. Wax all the metal trim to keep its luster.
NOTE:
Removing oil, tar, etc., with a spot remover will usually strip the
wax from the surrounding finish. Be sure to re-wax these areas
even if the rest of the car does not yet need waxing.
Rust PreventionRusting is likely to occur in parts of the car where water is trapped
or where there is continual dampness.
Water will collect inside doors and body panels if drain holes
become clogged.

Water which seeps under or soaks floor mats will subject floor
sections to prolonged wetness or dampness.Road dirt or sand, which collects and fills recesses on the
underside of the car, retains moisture long after the rest of the

car has dried.

The removal of paint and undercoating by stones, gravel, and minor accidents immediately exposes metal to air and moisture. Rusting is increased by high humidity and by the presence of
corrosive substances in the air or on the roads. Sart used for road de-icing will coat the bottom of the car and
hasten rusting. Localities with high humidity have greater potential for rust
problems, especially where salt is also present on the road or in
moist sea air.
Industrial pollution will accelerate the deterioration of paint
finishes and promote rusting.

(cont'd)ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Appearance Care (cont'd)

Preventive Service

Check all drain holes in the doors and body panels for clogging and
clear if necessary. When washing your car, also clean the underside of the car by using high pressure water; above subframe,
inside front fender, rear suspension, inside rear wheel housing,
and under rear bumper.
After washing your car or after heavy rain, check for leaks. While
checking for leaks, lift the floor mats in the passenger, cargo and
spare tire areas, and check beneath them. Water can collect in
these areas and remain unseen for prolonged periods. Dry any wet areas of your car's interior. Remove and dry wet floor mats. Have
leaks repaired as soon as possible.
After driving your car, wipe off any road dirt or salt on the radio
antenna, with it fully extended.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Replacement Body and Fender Parts
If your vehicle incurs body damage and requires replacement parts,
we encourage you to use only Genuine Honda sheet metal body and
fender parts. Many insurance companies are specifying imitation sheet metal parts for collision repairs in an effort to reduce claim

costs; however, if imitation parts are used the following conditions
may apply:
There is no assurance that imitation parts will equal the fit and
finish of Genuine Honda sheet metal parts; and in our experience

they often do not.

There is no assurance that imitation parts will resist corrosion aswell as Genuine Honda sheet metal parts.Imitation sheet metal parts are not covered by the Honda Limited

Warranty.

To ensure your continued satisfaction with your Honda vehicle in the event of an accident, contact your insurance adjuster and insist
on Genuine Honda parts in the repair of your vehicle. Body RepairProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Spare Tire
COMPACT Spare Tire
Your car is supplied with a COMPACT spare tire and wheel for

temporary use only in the event of a flat tire. Use the COMPACT
spare only when you have to, and only to go as far as the next
garage or dealer to have the regular tire repaired and reinstalled.
Because you will rarely use the COMPACT spare, be sure to
regularly check its condition and air pressure (415 kPa, 60 psi), so it
will be ready when you need it. This type of tire holds less air at
higher pressure than a regular tire, so it will inflate (or deflate if there is a leak) more rapidly; check its pressure often and add air gradually
if it needs any.
The COMPACT spare tire has adifferent tire size, air pressure re-
quirement, tread life and maxi- mum speed rating than the four
regular tires on your car. Disre-
garding these warnings may re-
sult in tire failure, loss of vehicle
control and possible injury to
vehicle occupants.Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances when
using the COMPACT spare.
Do not mount snow chains on the COMPACT spare. They will
not fit properly and will damage the tire and possibly your car. Ifyou must use the COMPACT spare when driving on roads
covered with snow or ice, use it as one of the rear tires and
mount chains only on the front two regular tires.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t