1999 HONDA CIVIC COUPE maintenance

1999 Civic Coupe 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
Introduction........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance ........................................................................\
....................................................... 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
............................................... 5
Pr op

er use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
...................................................51
Instrument panel in

dicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
.................................87
How to op

erate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
.....................................................................123
What gasoli n
e to u

se, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................................................135
The proper way t o

start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.........................................................................157
T h
e Ma

intenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
.................................................................213
T i
ps on cl

eaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................219
This section covers sever
a

l problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
.......................................................243
ID numbers, dimens ions, capacities, and techn

ical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)......................................................................257
A summary of th
e warr

anties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.......................................263
How t o
order

manuals and other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Servic e Inf

ormation Summary
A summary of informa

tion you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.


Owner's Identification

Introduction

Congratulations ! Your selection of a 1999 Honda Civic was a wise
investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner's manual in your car so you
can refer to it at any time.
Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.
Maintaining your car according to the schedules given in this manual helps
to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. When
your car needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer's staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Honda. Your
Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer
any questions and concerns. As you read this manual, you will
find information that is preceded by symbol. This
information is intended to help you
avoid damage to your Honda, other
property, or the environment.
a NOTICEMain Menu s t

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you important
information about how to protect

yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts

properly. It explains your Supple-

mental Restraint System. And it tells

you how to properly restrain infants

mid children in your car.

Important Safety Precautions.......... 6

Your Car's Safety Features.............. 7
Seat Belts........................................ 8
Airbags............................................ 9

Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10Head Restraints........................... 10
Door Locks................................... 11
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist......... 11

Protecting Adults............................. 12
1. Close and Lock the Doors...... 12
2. Adjust the Front Seats............ 12 3. Adjust the Seat-Backs............. 13
4. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 145. Fasten and Position the Seat
Belts...................................... 15

6. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 18
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position................................. 18

Advice for Pregnant Women...... 19

Additional Safety Precautions.... 19

Protecting Children......................... 21
All Children Must Be

Restrained................................ 21
Children Should Sit in the Back
Seat............................................ 22

The Passenger's Airbag Poses Serious Risks to Children....... 22
If You Must Drive with Several Children.................................... 24 If a Child Requires Close
Attention................................... 24
Additional Safety Precaution...... 24 General Guidelines for Using
Child Seats................................ 25

Protecting Infants........................ 29 Protecting Small Children.......... 33
Protecting Larger Children........ 37
Using Child Seats with Tethers...................................... 40
Additional Information About Your
Seat Belts.................................. 42

Seat Belt System Components... 42
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42
Lap Belt......................................... 43
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44
Additional Information About Your
SRS............................................ 45

SRS Components......................... 45

How Your Airbags Work............ 45
How the SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................ 47

SRS Service................................... 47

Additional Safety Precautions.... 48

Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49

Safety Labels.................................... 50

Driver and Passenger SafetyMain Menu s t

Important Safety Precautions

You'll find many safety recommendations throughout thissection, and throughout this manual.
The recommendations on this page are the ones we consider to be the
most important.
Always Wear Your Seat Belt
A seat bel
t is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags supplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inflate only in a
moderate to severe frontal collision. So even though your car is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and
your passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page 15.)
Restrain All Children Children are safest when they are
properly restrained in the back seat, not the front seat. A child who is too
small for a seat belt must be properly
restrained in a child safety seat. (See
page 21.) Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
While airbags save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Infants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. (See page 7.)

Don't Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don't drink
and drive, and don't let your friends
drink and drive, either. Control Your Speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed the greater the
risk, but serious accidents can also
occur at lower speeds. Never drive
faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Keep Your Car in Safe Condition
Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical failure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibilityof such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page 162.)

Driver and Passenger SafetyMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt Maintenance
For safety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.
Pull each belt out fully and look for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check that the latches work smoothly and
that the lap/shoulder belts retracteasily. Any belt not in good condition
or not working properly will not
provide good protection and should
be replaced as soon as possible.
(U.S. models only)
Honda provides a lifetime warranty
on seat belts. Honda will repair or
replace any seat belt component that
fails to function properly during
normal use. Please see your Honda
Warranty Information booklet for

details.
After a crash, you should have your
dealer inspect the seat belts. A belt
that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of
protection. The dealer should also
inspect the anchors for damage andreplace them if needed.
For information on how to clean yourseat belts, see page 216.
Driver and Passenger Safety Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when needed.
Check your seat belts regularly

and have any problem

corrected as soon as possible.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Additional Information About Your SRS

How the SRS Indicator Light

Works
The purpose of the SRSlight is to alert you to a
potential problem with your Supplemental Restraint System.
When you turn the ignition ON (II), this indicator will light up briefly
then go out. This tells you that the system is working properly.
However, if the light comes on at any
other time, you should have the system checked by your dealer. For

example:
If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition

ON (II). If the light stays on after the

engine starts. If the light comes on or flashes on
and off while you drive.
If you see any of these indications,
your airbags may not deploy when
you need them. See your Honda dealer as soon as possible. SRS Service
Your Supplemental Restraint System is virtually maintenance-free, and
there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have
your car serviced if:
Your airbags ever inflate. The

airbags and the control unit must
be replaced. Do not try to remove or replace the airbags yourself.
This must be done by a Honda dealer or a knowledgeable body

shop.
The SRS indicator light alerts you

to a problem. Take your car to an
authorized Acura dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inflate when you need them.

Driver and Passenger Safety

SRS

Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags do not inflate when needed.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Instruments and Controls

This section gives information about
the controls and displays thatcontribute to the daily operation of

your Honda. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations............................ 52

Indicator Lights................................ 53
Gauges.............................................. 57
Speedometer................................ 57

Tachometer.................................. 57
Odometer...................................... 57
Trip Meter.................................... 57
Fuel Gauge................................... 58

Temperature Gauge.................... 58
Maintenance Required
Indicator.................................... 59

Controls Near the Steering Wheel........................................ 60
Headlights.................................... 61
Daytime Running Lights............. 61
Instrument Panel Brightness..... 62
Turn Signals................................. 62
Windshield Wipers...................... 63

Windshield Washers................... 63
Hazard Warning........................... 64

Rear Window Defogger.............. 64

Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 65

Steering Wheel Controls ................ 66 Cruise Control.............................. 66
Keys and Locks................................ 69
Keys.............................................. 69
Ignition Switch............................. 69

Door Locks................................... 70
Power Door Locks....................... 71

Remote Transmitter.................... 72

Trunk............................................ 75

Seat Adjustments............................. 76
Front Seat Adjustments.............. 76

Rear Seat Access......................... 77

Head Restraints........................... 77

Folding Rear Seat............................ 78

Power Windows............................... 79

Moonroof.......................................... 81

Mirrors.............................................. 81
Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 82

Parking Brake.................................. 83 Glove Box......................................... 83
Beverage Holder.............................. 84
Accessory Power Socket................ 85
Ashtrays............................................ 85
Interior Light.................................... 86

Instruments and ControlsMain Menu s t

Gauges

Speedometer U.S. Models

This shows your speed in miles per
hour (mph). The smaller inner

numbers are the speed in kilometers

per hour (km/h).

Canadian Models
This shows your speed in kilometers per hour (km/h). The smaller innernumbers are the speed in miles per hour (mph).
Tachometer
On HX, EX, and Si models in the U.S.,
and Si and SiR models in Canada

The tachometer shows the engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm). To protect the engine from
damage, never drive with the
tachometer needle in the red zone. Odometer
The odometer shows the total dis- tance your car has been driven. Itmeasures miles in U.S. models and
kilometers in Canadian models. It is illegal under U.S. federal law andCanadian provincial regulations to
disconnect, reset, or alter the
odometer with the intent to change
the number of miles or kilometers
indicated.

Trip Meter
This meter shows the number of miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)driven since you last reset it. To

reset it, push the trip meter reset

button.
Instruments and Controls
U.S.: EX Instrument Panel
TACHOMETER TRIP METERSPEEDOMETER
FUEL GAUGETEMPERATURE
GAUGE
ODOMETER
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED INDICATOR
TRIP METER
RESET BUTTONMain Menu Table of Contents s t