1999 HONDA CIVIC COUPE Owners Manual

Corrosion Protection, Body Repairs

Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors and body.
Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode.
Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your car. This is especially important in areas that
use road salt in winter. It is also a
good idea in humid climates and
areas subject to salt air. Cars
equipped with ABS have a sensor and wiring at each wheel. Be
careful not to damage them.
Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
car inspected and repaired
periodically. Body Repairs

Body repairs can affect your car's
resistance to corrosion. If your car
needs repairs after a collision, pay
close attention to the parts used in
the repair and the quality of the
work.
Make sure the repair facility usesGenuine Honda replacement body
parts. Some companies make sheet metal pieces that seem to duplicate
the original Honda body parts, but
are actually inferior in fit, finish, and
corrosion resistance. Once installed,
they do not give the same high-quality appearance.
When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want Genuine Honda parts used in the repair. Although most insurers
recognize the quality of originalparts, some may try to specify that
the repairs be done with other available parts. You should investi-
gate this before any repairs are

begun.

Take your car to your authorized Honda dealer for inspection after the
repairs are completed. Your dealer
can make sure that quality materials
were used, and that corrosion- preventive coatings were applied to
all repaired and replaced parts.

Appearance CareMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers the more- common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructions
on getting your car towed. Compact Spare Tire....................... 220
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 221
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 226
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly............................. 226
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 227
Jump Starting................................. 227 If Your Engine Overheats............. 229
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 231Charging System Indicator........... 232
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 233
Brake System Indicator................ 234 Closing the Moonroof................... 235
Fuses............................................... 236 Checking and Replacing........... 237
Emergency Towing....................... 241

Taking Care of the UnexpectedMain Menu s t

Compact Spare Tire

Your car has a compact spare tire that takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your car as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to: 60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)
Follow these precautions whenever

you are using the compact spare tire:

Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)

under any circumstances.

This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-

faces than the regular tire. Use

greater caution while driving on

this tire.

Do not mount snow chains on the

compact spare.

The wheel of the folding spare tire is designed especially to fit your
car. Do not use your spare tire on

another car unless it is the same

make and model.
The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacementshould be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not designed for mounting a regular tire.
Taking Care of the Unexpected INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BARMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the car on firm, level, non-slippery ground away from traffic.
Put the transmission in Park.
Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire. 3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
floor by lifting up on the back edge.
4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk. 5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take the spare tire out of the trunk.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected

SPARE TIRE
TRUNK FLOOR
JACK
TOOL KIT

The car can easily roll off the

jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.

Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire

6. Turn the jack's end bracket
counterclockwise to loosen it, then
remove the jack. 7. Loosen the four wheel nuts 1/2
turn with the wheel wrench. 8. Locate the jacking point nearest
the tire you need to change. It ispointed to by an arrow molded into
the underside of the body. Place
the jack under the jacking point.
Turn the end bracket clockwise until the top of the jack contacts
the jacking point. Make sure the
jacking point tab is resting in the
jack notch.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

JACK

WHEEL WRENCH JACKING
POINTMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire

9. Use the extension and wheel wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the flat tire is off the
ground.

10.Remove the wheel nuts and flat tire. Temporarily place the flat tireon the ground with the outside
surface of the wheel facing up.
You could scratch the wheel if you put it face down.
On DX and EX models in the U.S., and
DX and Si models in Canada

Do not attempt to forcibly pry the
wheel cover off with a screwdriver or other tool. The wheel cover cannot
be removed without first removing
the wheel nuts. 11.Before mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt off the mountingsurface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hubcarefully, it may be hot from
driving.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected
WHEEL WRENCH EXTENSION

BRAKE HU BMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire

12.Put on the spare tire. Put the wheel nuts back on finger-tight,then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is firmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them fully.
13.Lower the car to the ground and
remove the jack.
14.Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to: 80 lbf.ft (108 N.m,11 kgf.m)
Taking Care of the UnexpectedMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire

15. Remove the wheel cover or center
cap.

Place the flat tire face down in the

trunk well.
16.Remove the spacer cone from the wing bolt, turn it over, and put it
back on the bolt.
17.Secure the flat tire by screwing the wing bolt back into its hole. 18.Store the jack in the trunk with the
end bracket on the left side. Turn
the jack's end bracket to lock it in
place. Store the tool kit.
19. Store the wheel cover or center cap in the trunk. Make sure it does
not get scratched or damaged.
20. Lower the trunk floor, then close the trunk lid.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
WING BOLT

SPACER
CONE

Loose items can fly around the

interior in a crash and could

seriously injure the occupants.

Store the wheel, jack and tools

securely before driving.Main Menu Table of Contents s t