1991 HONDA CIVIC brake

Safety Items

Before driving away, check that: The doors are closed properly.
The mirrors are properly adjusted, and the windows clean.
The driver and passengers are wearing properly adjusted seat

belts.
The head restraints are properly adjusted.
The warning and indicator lights are operating properly. The brake pedal feels normal.

All luggage and cargo is secured.
Nothing is interfering with the driver's feet or blocking vision to

the rear.

While driving remember to: Always drive defensively; expect the unexpected.Reduce your speed during night hours and bad weather.Follow at a safe distance; don't tailgate. Get off the highway when you are tired; stop and take a rest.
When stopping for repairs: Park the car well off the road.
Turn on the hazard warning flasher. Use flares or other warning devices to warn other motorists.
After parking your car: Apply the parking brake and shift to first gear if equipped with
manual transmission, or PARK on automatic transmission equip-ped cars.
Make sure the sunroof and windows are closed and the doors are
locked.
If parked on a hill:

1. Turn the front wheels away from the curb if facing uphill.
2. Turn the front wheels toward the curb if facing downhill.
Never leave children unattended in a parked car. Take your keys.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Shifting the 4 or 5 Speed
The fully synchronized manual trans- mission is very easy to shift up or
down. When you slow down for
traffic, steep hills, or corners, shift
to a lower gear before the engine starts to labor. When descendingsteep grades, select a lower gear to
help maintain a safe speed and toprevent the brakes from overheat-

ing.

When shifting, depress the clutch pedal fully, shift gears and then release the clutch gradually. Do not speed-shift; allow time for the
gears to synchronize.
To prevent grinding the gears when shifting into reverse, hold the clutch pedal depressed briefly before shifting, or shift the lever into one of the forward gears before selecting reverse.
On 5 speed transmissions, a safety lockout prevents accidentalshifting straight from 5th to Reverse.
Avoid rapid acceleration or sudden deceleration when either or both driving wheels are on a slippery surface. Decreased traction
could cause loss of directional control.

Clutch Pedal Adjustment
Clutch pedal free travel must be adjusted periodically to
compensate for lining wear. There should be approximately 25 mm (1 in) of pedal free travel. If not, or if the clutch seems to slip or
you have difficulty shifting, have your dealer check the clutch adjustment.
CAUTION:
Do not drive with your foot on the clutch pedal as this will cause
premature wear of clutch components.
Do not shift into reverse while the car is moving. Driving with the clutch pedal free travel improperly adjusted can
cause premature wear of the clutch components.

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Shifting the Automatic
The automatic transmission shift lever has a locking mechanism to prevent accidental shifting into Reverse (R), Park (P) or 2nd (2). Also,
an Automatic Shift Lock prevents you from shifting out of Park
unless the brake pedal is already depressed and the ignition switch is
in the II position.
Push the button on the shift handle to shift into 2nd, Reverse or
Park; depress the brake pedal and then push the button on the shift
handle to shift out of Park. : Depress the brake pedal first
and push the button, then shift.
: Push the button, then shift.
: Shift as desired.

Depress
button

SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE
KEY
Insert

If you cannot shift out of Park with
the brake pedal depressed and the ignition switch in the II position:
1.Turn the ignition switch off and
remove the key.

2. Insert the key in the Shift Lock Release located to the right of the

shift lever.

3. Press and hold the key down, then press the button on the shifthandle and move the shift lever to
Neutral.

4. Return the key to the ignition switch, depress the brake pedaland restart the engine.

NOTE:
If you encounter any problem shifting out of Park, have your
authorized Honda dealer check the system as soon as possible.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Operating Tips
For smoother operation, apply the brakes when shifting from
Neutral or Park to a forward or reverse gear.
When parking: bring the car to a stop with the foot brake, hold the brake on and shift into Park, set the hand brake and then turn off
the engine.

NOTE:

Your 4 speed automatic transmission is equipped with a torque
converter lock-up clutch. Because of this, you may notice what
feels like an extra shift as the clutch engages.

CAUTION:
Shift into P only after the car has come to a complete stop.
Shift into or out of R only after the car has come to a complete
stop.

Do not "rev-up" the engine when the brake is on and the shift
lever is in D4, D3, 2 or R.
When stopped on a hill, use the brakes to hold your position, not
the accelerator pedal.
Do not shift from N or P into D4, D3, 2 or R when the engine is
above idle speed. Before shifting into gear, make sure your foot is firmly on the brake pedal. Do not rest your hand on the shift lever or push the shift button
while driving.

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Check the following items at each fuel stop:

1. Engine oil level.

2. Radiator coolant level.
Check the following items periodically: 1. Brakes: for braking efficiency, brake pedal travel and hydraulic
fluid level.

2. Lights: for operation of headlights, taillights, side marker lights, stoplights, turn signals and back-up lights.
3. Tires: for correct pressures (including spare); inspect for cuts and uneven or excessive wear. Rotate every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
in the pattern shown on page 97.
4. Steering: for excessive play or vibration while driving. 5. Exhaust system: for leaks or loose mounts.
6. Wipers: for operation of windshield wipers and washer, and condition of wiper blades.
7. Seat belts: for condition of fabric and buckles, and operation of the restraint mechanism.

8. Battery condition.

9. Clutch adjustment (clutch pedal free travel).

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Fluid Locations
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK ENGINE OILFILLER CAP
POWER STEERING
FLUID RESERVOIR
RADIATOR
CAP WASHER FLUID
RESERVOIR CAP
RADIATOR RESERVE
TANK CAP BRAKE FLUID
RESERVOIR
ENGINE OIL
DIPSTICKProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Brakes

Brake System Design

The diagonally-separated dual serv-
ice brake system is designed so half
the system will still provide braking action if the other half fails.
Stopping the car after losing the brake fluid from half the system will
require more pedal pressure and pedal travel than normal. Also, the
distance required to stop will be longer using only half the brake
system. If the brakes fail suddenly, downshift to a lower gear for increased engine braking, and pull off the road as soon as possible.
It is dangerous to drive your car with a problem in either thebrake electrical or hydraulic system; have your dealer check
both systems if you suspect brake trouble.
Driving through deep water may affect the brakes.Check their effectiveness by pressing the brake pedal gently.
If the car does not slow down at the normal rate, continue
gently applying the brakes, while maintaining a safe speed, until
they dry out and normal performance returns. Do not ride the brakes. In other words, don't put your foot on
the brake pedal unless you intend to brake. This causes excessive brake wear and can damage, or lead to loss of braking
effectiveness through overheating. Your brake lights may also
confuse drivers behind you.
Brake Wear Both front and rear brakes should be inspected for wear at the
intervals shown in the Maintenance Schedule on page 70.
When the brakes require maintenance, use only genuine Honda
replacement parts or their equivalent.

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Brakes (cont'd)
Front Brake Wear Indicators
Your car is equipped with audible front brake wear indicators. When
the brake pads wear to point that they should be replaced, they will make a "screeching" sound when the wheels are rolling and when
the brakes are applied.

NOTE:
Due to some driving habits or climates, brakes may "squeal" when
you first apply them or when you have them partially applied; this is normal, and does not indicate excessive wear. The wear indicator
makes a "screeching" sound while the brakes are applied.
Brake Fluid Check the fluid level in the brake reservoir periodically; it should be
between the MAX and MIN marks on the reservoir. If the level is near the MIN mark, add fluid to raise it to the MAX
mark. Do not overfill. Use only brake fluid manufactured to DOT 3
or DOT 4 specifications (see reservoir cap) from a sealed container.Follow the manufacturer's instructions printed on the can.
NOTE:
A low brake fluid level may be an indication of brake pad wear or of brake fluid leakage. You should have your brakes checked if the
brake fluid level in the reservoir is low before re-filling it.
BRAKE FLUID
RESERVOIR

CAUTION:

The arrow on the reservoir cap must be pointing forward after the
cap is installed. Make sure the brake warning switch wiring doesn't get caught between the cap and top edge of the reservoir. MAX
MINProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t