1999 HONDA CIVIC COUPE Owners Manual

Fuel Economy
The condition of your car and your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Vehicle Condition Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Owner MaintenanceChecks (see page 169). For
example, an underinflated tire
causes more "rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out faster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your fuel mileage and reduces the chance of corrosion.
Driving Habits

You can improve fuel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that
allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.

Depending on traffic conditions, try

to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up.
your car uses extra fuel. Use the cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to "warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of "cold starts," try tocombine several short trips into one.

The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it

use more fuel. Turn off the A/C to

cut down on air conditioning use.
Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is moderate.

Before DrivingMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Accessories and Modifications

Modifying your car, or installingsome non-Honda accessories, can
make your car unsafe. Before you make any modifications or add anyaccessories, be sure to read the
following information.

Accessories
Your dealer has Genuine Honda accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These accessories have been designed and
approved for your car, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Honda accessories are usually designed for universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories may fit on your car, they may not
meet factory specifications, and
could adversely affect your car's
handling and stability. (See "Modifications" on the page 131 for
additional information.) When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems shouldnot interfere with your car's
computer-controlled systems, such as the SRS and anti-lock brake

system.

However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your car's electrical system capacity, they can interfere with the operation of your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
Before installing any accessory:
Make sure the accessory does notobscure any lights, or interfere
with proper car operation or
performance.
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits (see page 239). Have the installer contact your
Honda dealer for assistance before
installing any electronic accessory.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the final installation.
Before Driving
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car's handling, stability and performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding accessories and modifications.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Accessories and Modifications

Modifications Do not remove any original
equipment or modify your car in any
way that would alter its design or operation. This could make your car
unsafe and illegal to drive.
For example, do not make any
modifications that would change the
ride height of your car, or install
wheels and tires with a different overall diameter.
Such modifications can adversely
affect handling, and interfere with
the operation of the car's anti-lock
brakes and other systems. In addition, any modifications that
decrease ground clearance increase
the chance of undercarriage parts striking a curb, speed bump, or other
raised object, which could cause
your airbags to deploy.
Do not modify your steering wheelor any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System.
Modifications could make the
system ineffective. Additional Safety Precaution
Do not attach or place objects on the
airbag covers. Any object attached to
or placed on the covers marked "SRS
AIRBAG," in the center of the steering wheel and on top of the
dashboard, could interfere with the
proper operation of the airbags. Or,
if the airbags inflate, the objects
could be propelled inside the car and
hurt someone.
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Carrying Cargo

Your car has several convenientstorage areas so you can stow cargo

safely.

The glove box, and the pockets in the front doors and seat-backs, aredesigned for small, lightweight items.
The trunk is intended for larger, heavier items. In addition, the backseat can be folded down to allow you
to carry more cargo or longer items.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can affect
your car's handling, stability and operation and make it unsafe. Before
carrying any type of cargo, be sure to
read the following pages.

Before Driving

CONSOLE COMPARTMENT
FRONT DOOR POCKET
TRUNK SEAT-BACK POCKET
GLOVE BOXMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Carrying Cargo
Load Limit

The maximum load for your car is
850
lbs
(395 kg).

This figure includes the total weight
of all occupants, cargo, and

accessories.

To figure out how much cargo you
can carry:

Add up the weight of all occupants.
Subtract the total from 850 Ibs

(395 kg).

The final number is the total weight
of cargo you can carry.
Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash. Do not put any items on top of the
rear shelf. They can block your
view and be thrown around the car during a crash. Be sure items placed on the floor
behind the front seats cannot roll under the seats and interfere with
the driver's ability to operate the
pedals, or with the properoperation of the seats. Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If the lid is open, a
passenger could injure their knees during a crash or sudden stop.

Before Driving

Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.

Follow all load limits and other

loading guidelines in this
manual.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Carrying Cargo

Carrying Cargo in the Trunk or on
a Roof Rack Distribute cargo evenly on the
floor of the trunk, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and as far forward as possible. If you fold down the back seat, tie
down items that could be thrown
about the car during a crash or
sudden stop. If you carry large items that
prevent you from closing the
hatch, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning, follow the instructions

on page 49. If you can carry any items on a

roof rack, be sure the total weight
of the rack and the items does not
exceed the maximum allowable
weight. Please contact your Honda dealer for further information.

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Driving

This section gives you tips on starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the5-speed manual and automatic
transmissions. It also includes impor-
tant information on parking your car,
and the braking system. Preparing to Drive......................... 136
Starting the Engine........................ 137
Starting in Cold Weatherat High Altitude ..................... 137
5-speed Manual Transmission..... 138 Recommended Shift Points...... 139
Engine Speed Limiter............... 139
Automatic Transmission............... 140 Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 141
Shift Lever Positions................. 141
Engine Speed Limiter............... 144
Shift Lock Release..................... 144Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)............. 145

Parking............................................ 149

Parking Tips............................... 149
The Braking System...................... 150 Brake Wear Indicators.............. 150
Brake System Design................ 151
Anti-lock Brakes........................ 151 Important SafetyReminders.......................... 152
ABS Indicator......................... 153
Driving in Bad Weather................ 154
Towing a Trailer............................ 155
DrivingMain Menu s t

Preparing to Drive

You should do the following checks and adjustments every day before
you drive your car.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,or ice.
2. Check that the hood and trunk are fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure. 4. Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or fastened downsecurely.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat (see page 76).
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see
page 81).
7. Check the adjustment of the steering wheel (see page 65).
8. Make sure the doors are securely closed and locked. 9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have fastenedtheir seat belts (see page 8).
10.Turn the ignition switch ON (II). Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
11.Start the engine (see page 137).
12. Check the gauges and indicator lights in the instrument panel (see
page 53).

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