1999 HONDA CIVIC COUPE towing

Brake System Indicator
The Brake System indicator light
should normally come on only when
the parking brake is not fully

released.

If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car's
brake system. In most cases, the problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it feels normal. If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a service station (see page 182). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your
dealer and have the brake system
inspected for leaks or worn brake

pads.

However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take immediate action. Because of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two wheels. You will feel the brake pedal
go down much farther before the car
begins to slow down, and you will have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be much longer.
Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. Youshould have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See Emergency Towing on page 241.)
If you must drive the car a short distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.

Taking Care of the Unexpected
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

* U.S. indicator shownMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Emergency Towing

If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a professional towing service or, if you belong to one, an
organization that provides roadside
assistance. Never tow your vehicle
behind another vehicle with just a rope or chain. It is very dangerous.
There are three popular types of
professional towing equipment.
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck. This is the best way to
transport your Honda.
Wheel-Lift Equipment — The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that
go under the tires (front or rear) and
lift them off the ground. The other
two tires remain on the ground. This is an acceptable way to tow
your Honda.
Sling-type Equipment — The tow truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and
the cables lift that end of the vehicle
off the ground. Your vehicle's suspension and body can beseriously damaged. This method of

towing is unacceptable.

If your Honda cannot be transported

by flat-bed, it should be towed by

wheel-lift equipment with the front

wheels off the ground. If due to
damage, your vehicle must be towed with the front wheels on the ground,
do the following.
5-speed Manual Transmission Release the parking brake.
Shift the transmission to Neutral.
Automatic Transmission Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
Shift to D4, then to N.
Turn off the engine. Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Followthe above procedure exactly. If youcannot shift the transmission or
start the engine (automatictransmission), your vehicle must be
transported with the front wheels
off the ground.
With the front wheels on the ground, it is best to tow the vehicleno farther than 50 miles (80 km),
and keep the speed below 35 mph
(55 km/h).
If you decide to tow your vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground,
make sure you use a properly-
designed and attached tow bar. Prepare the vehicle for towing as
described above, and leave theignition switch in Accessory (I) so
the steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
Taking Care of the Unexpected

NOTICEMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Emergency Towing

plugged into the accessory powersocket are turned off so they do not
run down the battery.
Trying to lift or tow your vehicle by
the bumpers will cause serious
damage. The bumpers are not designed to support the vehicle's

weight.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

The steering system can be
damaged if the steering wheel is locked. Leave the ignition switch in
Accessory (I), and make sure the steering wheel turns freely before
you begin towing.
NOTICE
NOTICEMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index

Consumer Information*................ 258
Controls, Instruments and.............. 51

Coolant
Adding.........................................171

Checking..................................... 128

Proper Solution.......................... 175

Replacing.................................... 177

Temperature Gauge.................... 58

Corrosion Protection..................... 217

Crankcase Emissions Control
System......................................... 254

Cruise Control Operation............... 66

Customer Relations Office........... 258
DANGER, Explanation of................. ii

Dashboard........................................ 52

Daytime Running Lights................. 61
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 227
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 262 Defog and Defrost........................... 93
Defogger, Rear Window................. 64
Defrosting the Windows................. 93
DEXRON® III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 181
Dimensions..................................... 246
Dimming the Headlights................ 61
Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 181
Engine Oil................................... 128

Directional Signals........................... 62

Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 241

Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 150
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 174
Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 70Power Door Locks....................... 71
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 250
Downshifting, 5-speed Manual Transmission.............................. 138
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5
Drive Belts...................................... 194
Driving............................................ 135
Economy..................................... 129
In Bad Weather.......................... 154
In Foreign Countries................. 253

Economy, Fuel............................... 129
Emergencies on the Road............. 219
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 227
Brake System Indicator............ 234 Changing a Flat Tire................. 221
Charging System Indicator...... 232
Checking the Fuses................... 237
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 231 Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 233
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 235
Overheated Engine................... 229
Emergency Brake............................ 82 Emergency Flashers....................... 64
Emergency Towing ........................ 241
Emissions Controls........................ 254Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 58
Malfunction Indicator Lamp................................. 55, 233
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 55, 231
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 171
Overheating................................ 229
Specifications............................. 246
Engine Speed Limiter............139, 144

CONTINUEDMain Menu s t

Index

Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 252
Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 254

Exhaust Fumes................................ 49

Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by......................................... 19
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 214
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 216
Fan, Interior...................................... 88
Features, Comfort and Convenience................................. 87
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 125
Filters Air................................................ 185

Oil................................................ 173

5-speed Manual Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 182
Shifting the................................. 138
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 64
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 221
Fluids Automatic Transmission........... 180Brake........................................... 183Clutch.......................................... 183 Manual Transmission............... 182
Power Steering........................... 184
Windshield Washer................... 180
FM Stereo Radio Reception.................................... 120
Folding Rear Seat............................ 78
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 253
Four-way Flashers........................... 64
Front End, Towing by Emergency Wrecker................. 241

Fuel.................................................. 124

Fill Door and Cap....................... 125Gauge............................................ 58
Octane Requirement................. 124
Oxygenated................................ 252
Reserve Indicator......................... 58
Tank, Filling the......................... 125
Fuses, Checking the...................... 236

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 129
Gasohol........................................... 252

Gasoline.......................................... 124
Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 58
Gauge............................................ 58
Octane Requirement................. 124

Tank, Filling the......................... 125

Gas Station Procedures................. 125

Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 58

Fuel................................................58
Gearshift Lever Positions
Automatic Transmission........... 140

5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 138

Glass Cleaning............................... 217

Glove Box......................................... 83

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 204
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 64
Headlights
Daytime Running Lights............. 61
High Beam Indicator................... 55
High Beams, Turning on............ 61
Low Beams, Turning on............. 61
Reminder Beeper......................... 61
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 204

Turning on.................................... 61

Head Restraints............................... 77Main Menu s t

Index

Maintenance

Safety........................................... 158

Schedule.............................. 162-166

Malfunction Indicator Lamp.. 55, 233

Manual Transmission.................... 138

Manual Transmission Fluid ......... 182

Meters, Gauges................................ 57

Methanol in Gasoline.................... 252

Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 81

Moonroof.......................................... 81
Closing Manually....................... 235Operation...................................... 81

Neutral Gear Position.................... 143

New Vehicle Break-in ................... 124
Normal Shift Speeds .............. 139-140
NOTICE, Explanation of.................... i

Numbers, Identification................ 244

Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 124
Odometer.......................................... 57

Odometer, Trip................................ 57
Oil
Change, How to......................... 173

Change, When to....................... 162

Checking Engine....................... 127
Pressure Indicator............... 55, 231 Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart....................................... 172
ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 70
Opening the Hood......................... 126
Opening the Trunk.......................... 75 Operation in Foreign Countries... 253
Outside Mirrors............................... 81
Overheating, Engine..................... 229
Panel Brightness Control............... 62 Park Gear Position......................... 141

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

Parking Brake.................................. 82
Parking Lights.................................. 64
Parking Over Things that Burn... 255
PGM-FI System.............................. 255
Polishing and Waxing................... 214

Power
Door Locks................................... 70
Mirrors.......................................... 81

Steering....................................... 184
Windows....................................... 79
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist............. 11
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 19

Protecting Adults............................. 12
Additional Safety Precautions.... 19
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 19
Protecting Children......................... 21 Protecting Infants........................ 29
Protecting Larger Children........ 37
Protecting Small Children.......... 33
Using Child Seats withTethers...................................... 40
Radiator Overheating.................... 229
Radio/Cassette Sound System....... 96
Rear End Towing........................... 241
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 206
Rear Seat, Folding........................... 78
Rear View Mirror............................. 81
Rear Window .................. 64Main Menu s t

Index

SRS, Additional Information........... 45

Additional Safety Precautions.... 48
How Your Airbags Work............ 45

How Your SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 47
SRS Components......................... 45
SRS Service................................... 47

SRS Indicator.............................. 47, 54

START (Ignition Key Position)..... 70 Starting the Engine........................ 137 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 137
With a Dead Battery................. 227
Steam Coming from Engine......... 229

Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 65
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 70
Stereo Sound System ...................... 96
Storing Your Car............................ 211
Supplemental Restraint System..... 45 Servicing....................................... 47

SRS Indicator.......................... 47, 54

System Components.................... 45

Synthetic Oil................................... 172 Tachometer...................................... 57
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 206
Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 219
Tape Player..................................... 115
Technical Descriptions Driving In Foreign Countries... 253
Emissions Control Systems...... 254
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 252
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 256
Tire Information........................ 249
Temperature Gauge........................ 58
Tether Attachment Points.............. 40
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 256

Time, Setting the............................. 99
Timing Belt..................................... 194
Tire Chains..................................... 201
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 221 Tires................................................ 195 Air Pressure............................... 195Checking Wear.......................... 197
Compact Spare........................... 220
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 250
Inflation....................................... 195 Inspection................................... 197
Maintenance............................... 197
Replacing.................................... 199
Rotating....................................... 198
Snow............................................ 200 Specifications............................. 248
Technical Information.............. 249
Technical Information................... 243 Tools,Tire Changing.................... 221
Towing A Trailer...................................... 155Emergency Wrecker................. 241
Transmission Checking Fluid Level,Automatic............................... 180
Checking Fluid Level,
Manual....................................182

Fluid Selection............................ 180
Identification Number............... 245
Shifting the Automatic..............140
Shifting the Manual................... 138
Treadwear...................................... 250
Trip Meter........................................ 57

Trunk................................................. 75
Opening......................................... 75

Open Monitor Light.................... 56Main Menu s t

Index

Turn Signals..................................... 62

Underside, Cleaning...................... 214
Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 219

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 250

Unleaded Gasoline......................... 124

Upholstery Cleaning...................... 216

Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 174
Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 132 Vehicle Dimensions....................... 246
Vehicle Identification Number..... 244
Vehicle Storage.............................. 211 Ventilation......................................... 90

VIN.................................................. 244
Vinyl Cleaning................................ 216
Viscosity, Oil................................... 172 Warning Beepers
Headlights on............................... 61
Key in Ignition.............................. 70
Seat Belts...................................... 54

WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii

Warning Labels, Location of.......... 50

Warranty Coverages*................... 261
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 180Operation...................................... 63
Washing.......................................... 214 Waxing and Polishing................... 214

Wheels
Adjusting the Steering................ 65
Alignment and Balance............. 197Compact Spare........................... 220
Wrench....................................... 222
Windows
Cleaning...................................... 217Operating the Power................... 79
Rear, Defogger............................ 64
Windshield Cleaning........................................ 63
Defroster...................................... 93 Wipers, Windshield
Changing Blades........................ 191Operation...................................... 63
Worn Tires..................................... 195
Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 241
* : U.S. and Canada onlyMain Menu s t