1998 HONDA CIVIC troubleshoot

- How the Circuit Works
Battery voltage is supplied through tuse 56 to the
A,/C compressor clutch r€lay contacts at all times.
With the ignition switch in ON (ll), vollage is applied
to the coil of the A,/C compressor clutch relay
through fuse 17. When you push the A,/C switch
ON, and the heater fan switch is in position | , 2, 3,
or 4, a "ground" input is provided to the engine
control module (ECM) or powertrain control module
(PCM) through the l'lC thermostat and the l'lC
pressure switch.
The A,/C compressor clutch relay is grounded by the
engine control module (ECM) or powertrain control
module (PCM). When energized, the A'lC
compressor clutch relay allows battery voltage to
turn on the A,/C comDressor clutch.
The A,/C ON indicator light comes on when the A,/C
system is requested.
A,/C Thermostat
The A'lC thermostat is located on the evaoorator
housing. The A,/C thermostat turns off the A,/C
compressor clutch if the temperature at the
evaporator goes below 3'C (37'F). This prevents
condensation from freezing on the evaporator fins
and blocking the air delivery into the passenger
compartment. The blower motor will keep running
when the sensor turns off the comDressor.
A,/C Pressure Switch
The fuC oressure switch is located in the condenser
outlet line where refrigerant is in a high
temperature/high pressure liquid state. The switch
will sense abnormally high or low pressure, and
open the circuit. This removes ground, and the
compressor will stop running.
Thermal Protectot
The thermal protector, located on the A,/C
compressor, opens and turns the compressor off if it
senses high temperature. Once the compressor
cools, the switch will close and the compressor will
begin running again.
Refer to the Service Manual (Section 22,
Air Conditioning) for specific tests or
troubleshooting procedures.
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- How the Circuit Works
Radiator Fan
Voltage is provided at all times to the radiator fan
relay (contacts) through fuse 57. With the ignition
swilch in ON (ll), voltage is provided to the coil of
the relay through luse 17.
The radiator tan relay can be grounded through
either the engine coolant temperature switch or the
engine control module (ECM) or powertrain control
module (PCM).
The engine coolant temperature switch grounds
the radiator fan relay (coil) when the engine
coolant temperature exceeds 199'F (83'C). The
switch opens when coolanl temperature
decreases 3'- 8'C.
Condenser Fan
Voltage is provided at all times to the condenser fan
relay (contacts) through fuse 56. With the ignition
switch in ON (ll), voltage is provided to the coil of
the relay through fuse 17. When you push the A'lC
switch and put the heater fan switch in 1, 2,3, o( 4
position, the ly'C thermostat comes on, the
condenser fan relay energizes, and the condenser
fan motor runs.
A,/C Thermostat
The A,/C thermostat is located on the evaporator
housing. The A,/C thermostat tums off the A/C
compressor clutch if the temperature at the
evaporator goes below 3'C (37'F). This prevents
condensation from freezing on the evaporator fins
and blocking the air delivery into the passenger
compartment. lf the temperature goes below 3'C
(37"F) tuming off the Ay'C thermostat, ground will be
removed from the condenser fan relay. This will
deenergize the relay and remove voltage from the
condenser fan motor causing the fan to stop running.
Reter to the Service Manual (Section 23, Eleckical)
for specific tests or troubleshooting procedures.
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Rear Window Defogger
- How the Circuit Works
'96198 Models
Voltage is applied at all limes through tuse 50 to the
rear window detogger relay (contacts). With the
ignition switch in ON (ll), voltage is applied through
tuse 16 to the rear window defogger switch.
When you turn the switch ON, voltage is applied to
the defogger timer circuit. The timer circuit supplies
voltage to the rear window defogger relay (coil). The
relay energizes and supplies voltage to the rear
window defogger. The defogger grid then heats the
rear window to remove any condensation from the
glass.
The defogger timer circuit will automatically turn off
the rear window defogger after about 25 minutes.
Refer to the Service Manual (Section 23, Electrical)
for specific tests or troubleshooting procedures.
'99100 Models
Voltage is applied at all times through fuse 50 to the
rear window delogger relay (contacts). With lhe
ignition switch in ON (ll), voltage is applied through
fuse 16 to the heater control oanel.
When you turn the rear window defogger switch
ON, a signal is sent to lhe defogger timer circuit
built-into the heater control oanel. The timer circuit
supplies voltage to the rear window defogger relay
(coil). The relay energizes and supplies voltage to
the rear window defogger. The defogger grid then
heats the rear window to remove anv condensation
from the glass.
The defogger timer circuit will automatically turn otf
the rear window defogger after about 25 minutes.
Refer to the Seryice Manual (Section 23, Electrical)
for specific tesls or troubleshooting procedures.
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Brake System Indicator Light (cont'd)
- How the Circuit Works
The brake system indicator light comes on to alert
the driver that the parking brake is applied, or that
the brake fluid level is low. lt also comes on as a
bulb test when the engine is cranked.
Parking Brake
With the ignition switch in ON (ll) or START (lll),
voltage is applied through fuse 25 to the brake
system light. When you apply the parking brake, the
switch closes and provides a ground for the light.
The light then comes on to remind you that the
parking brake is applied.
Brake Fluid Level
With the ignition switch in ON (ll) or START (lll),
voltage is applied through fuse 25 to the brake
system light. lf the brake fluid level is low, the brake
fluid level switch closes, providing ground to the
circuit. The brake system light then comes on,
alerting the d verto a low brake fluid level in the
brake master cylinder. (Check brake pad wear
before you add fluid).
Bulb Check
With the ignition switch in START (lll) and clutch
pedal depressed or A'lT gear selector in PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N), voltage is applied through fuse 31
to the brake bulb check circuit. The brake bulb
check circuit closes, allowing current to flow through
the brake system light and bulb check circuit to
ground. The brake system light then comes on to
test the bulb.
Refer to the Service Manual (Section 23, Electrical)
for specific tests or troubleshooting procedures.
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How the Circuit Works
Seat Belt Warning
With the ignition switch in ON (ll) or START (lll),
battery voltage is applied to the seat belt reminder
light. When the seat belt is not buckled, the seat
belt reminder/key-on beeper circuit in the
integrated control unit senses ground through the
closed seat belt switch. The seat belt reminder light
comes on and stays on, and the beeper beeps for
6 seconds. The reminder light and beeper will stop
when the seat belt is buckled or the timer circuit
deactivates them.
lgnition Key Warning
Battery voltage is supplied at all times to the seat
belt reminder/key-on beeper circuit in the
integrated control unit. When you turn on the
ignition key switch the integrated control unit
senses ground. lf you open the driver's door, the
door switch closes, causing the beeper to sound
until the door is closed.
Refer to the Service Manual (Section 23, Electrical)
for specitic tests or troubleshootrng procedures.
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How the Gircuit Works
All Except GX
Do not smoke while working on the fuel system.
Keep open flame away trom the work area. Drain
fuel only into an approved container.
A thermistor is mounted in the fuel tank unit. When
the thermistor is cool, its resistance is very high.
When the thermistor's temperature increases, its
resistance decreases. Fuel in the fuel tank transters
heat away lrom the thermistor fast enough to keep it
cool so the thermistor's resistance stays high and
lhe low fuel indicator light does not come on. When
the fuel level drops below the thermistor, the
thermistor's temoerature increases. Without the fuel
to cool it, the thermistor's resislance decreases,
allowing current to llow through the low fuel
indicator light and the thermistor to ground, and the
low fuel indicator light comes on.
Refer to the Service Manual (Section 23, Electrical)
for specific tests or troubleshooting procedures.
GX
The PCM turns on the low fuel indicator light when
the fuel level is low. The PCM will also blink the
indicator light when a problem is detected by the
fuel tank pressure sensor or the fuel tank
temperature sensor.
Refer to the Service Manual GX Supplement
(Section 11 , Fuel and Emissions) for specific tests
or troubleshooting procedures.
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Gauges (cont'd)
- How the Gircuit Works
When the ignition switch is in ON (ll) or START (lll),
battery voltage is supplied through fuse 25 to the
gauges in the gauge assembly.
Speedometer and Odometer
The odometer and soeedometer drive circuits
receive pulses from the vehicle speed sensor
(VSS). The pulse rate increases as the car
accelerates. The frequency and duration of these
input pulses are measured and displayed by the
speedometer, odometer and tripmeter.
Tachometer
The tachometer drive circuit receives pulses from
the ignition control module (lCM) in the distributor
assembly or the ECM/PCM. The solid-state
lachometer then displays these pulses as engine
speed. For each 200 pulses per minute from the
ignition control modul€ (lCM) or the ECM/PCM, the
tachometer displays 100 RPM.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
The engine coolant temperature gauge has two
intersecting coils wound around a permanent
magnet rotor. Voltage applied to the coils, through
fuse 25, generates a magnetic lield. The magnetic
field, controlled by the coolant temperature sending
unit, causes the rotor to rotate and the gauge
needle to move. As the resistance in the sending
unit varies, current through the gauge coils
changes. The gauge needle moves toward the coil
with the strongest magnetic field.
The 6ngine coolant temperature sending unit's
resistance varies from about 137 ohms at low
engine temperature to between 3H6 ohms at high
temperature (radiator fan running).
Refer to the Service Manual (Section 23, Electrical)
for specific tests or troubleshooting procedures.
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Fuel Gauge (All except cX)
The fuel gauge has two intersecting coils wound
around a permanent magnet rotor. Voltage applied
to the coils, through tuse 25, generates a magnetic
field. The magnetic field, controlled by the fuel
gauge sending unit, causes the rotor to rotate and
the gauge needle to move. As the resislance in the
sending unit varies, current through the gauge coils
changes. The gauge needle moves toward the coil
with the strongest magnetic field.
The fuel gauge sending unit's resistance varies
from about 2-5 ohms at full, to about 110 ohms at
empty. When you turn the ignition switch off, the
gauge remains at the last reading until you turn the
ignition switch to ON (ll) or START (lll) again,
Refer to the Service Manual (Section 23, Electrical)
for specific tests or troubleshooting procedures.
Fuel Gauge (GX)
The fuel gauge has two intersecting coils wound
around a permanent magnet rotor. Voltage applied
to the coils, through fuse 25, generates a magnetic
field. The magnetic field, controlled by the PCM,
causes the rotor to rotate and the gauge needle to
move. The PCM calculates the gas quantity in the
fuel tank by using the fuel pressure value detected
by the tuel tank pressure sensor and the fuel
temperature value detected by the fuel tank
temperalure sensor, and outputs the signal to the
gauge assembly. The gauge needle moves toward
the coil with the strongest magnetic field.
When you turn the ignition switch off , the gauge
remains at the last reading until you turn the ignition
switch to ON (ll) or START (lll) again. When the
PCM detects a malfunction with the fuel pressure or
temperature, or detects a gas leak, the PCM
reduces the fuel meter to 0.
Refer to the Service Manual GX Supplement
(Section 11 , Fuel and Emissions) for specific tests
or troubleshooting procedures.
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A/T Gear Position Indicator (conrd)
- How the Circuit Works
With the ignition switch in ON (ll) or START (lll),
voltage is applied to the A,/T gear position indicator.
The A,/T gear position switch provides a ground for
each position. As an input is grounded, its indicator
light comes on. lf you select R, for example, ground
will be provided to the input of the A,/T gear position
indicato( and the R indicator will come on.
With the headlight switch in PARK or HEAD, voltage
is applied to the RED/BLK wire terminal. This
changes the indicator panel illumination from fixed
to controlled by the dash lights dimmer input
through the RED wire.
When the powertrain (all except '96-'98 CVT) or
transmission ('96198 CVT) control module (PCM or
TCM) detects an abnormality in the automatic
transmission control system, or when you request
diagnostic trouble codes through the service check
connector, the PCM or TCM will make the D4 (D for
CVT) indicator light blink.
Refer to the Service Manual (Section 14,
Automatic Transmission) for specific tests or
troubleshooting procedures.
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