1999 HONDA CIVIC COUPE key

Parking

Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on the instrument panel shows that theparking brake is not fully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the parking brake is set firmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.

If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
before you put the transmission inPark. This keeps the car from
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission — making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put it in first gear.
If the car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Parking Tips Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed. Turn off the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you. Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on

fire.

DrivingMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Cooling System

Replacing Engine Coolant

The cooling system should be completely drained and refilled with
new coolant according to the timeand distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use Genuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance done by a skilled mechanic. 1. Turn the ignition ON (II). Turnthe temperature control dial to
maximum heat. Turn off the
ignition and remove the key. Open
the hood. Make sure the engineand radiator are cool to the touch.
2. Remove the radiator cap. 3. Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will come out through the
hole in the splash cover.
(U.S.: Si model, Canada: SiR model)
Remove the drain bolt and washer
from the engine block.
CONTINUED
Maintenance

DRAIN PLUGMain Menu Table of Contents s t

If Your Engine Won't Start

Diagnosing why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):
You hear nothing, or almostnothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, oroperates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up and run. Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all. Check these things:
Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed all the way to the floor or thestarter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check their brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See

Jump Starting on page 227.
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the electrical circuit for the ignitionswitch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to
determine the problem. (See

Emergency Towing on page 241.)

If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page 189). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
from a booster battery (see page 227).

Taking Care of the UnexpectedMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index

Accessories and Modifications.... 130 Accessories................................. 130Additional Safety Precaution.... 131 Modifications............................. 131
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........................................ 70
Accessory Power Socket................ 85
Adding Automatic Transmission

Fluid........................................ 180

Brake Fluid................................. 183 Clutch Fluid................................ 183
Engine Coolant........................... 175

Engine Oil................................... 171

Manual Transmission Fluid..... 182
Power Steering Fluid................. 184
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 180
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts........................ 42
Lap Belt......................................... 43
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44
Seat Belt System Components... 42 Additional Information About
Your SRS................................... 45
Additional Safety Precautions.... 48 How Your Airbags Work............ 45
How Your SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 47

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

Additives, Engine Oil..................... 171

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

Mirrors.......................................... 81

Seats.............................................. 76

Steering Wheel............................ 65

Airbag (SRS)...................................... 9
Air Cleaner Element...................... 185 Air Conditioning............................... 88 Maintenance............................... 193
Usage............................................. 90
Air Outlets (Vents).......................... 90
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 196 High Speed Driving................... 250
Normal Driving.......................... 196
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 252
Antifreeze....................................... 175
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) Indicator Light.................... 55, 153
Operation.................................... 152

Anti-theft Steering Column
Lock............................................... 70

Appearance Care........................... 213
Ashtrays (Optional)......................... 85

Audio System................................... 96

Automatic Speed Control................ 66
Automatic Transmission............... 140

Capacity, Fluid........................... 247

Checking Fluid Level................ 180

Shifting........................................ 141
Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 140
Shift Lever Positions................. 141
Shift Lock Release..................... 144
Battery Charging SystemIndicator............................ 55, 232
Jump Starting............................. 227 Maintenance............................... 189
Specifications............................. 248
CONTINUEDMain Menu s t

Index

Heating and Cooling........................ 88

High Altitude, Starting at.............. 137

High-Low Beam Switch.................. 61

High-mount Brake Light............... 209

Hood, Opening the........................ 126

Horn................................................... 60

Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 175

Hydraulic Clutch............................ 183

Hydroplaning.................................. 154

Identification Number, Vehicle.... 244

If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 241
Ignition
Keys............................................... 69

Switch............................................ 69

Timing Control System............. 255
Important Safety Precautions.......... 6
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel.............................................. 53

Infant Restraint................................ 29

Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 195
High Speed Driving................... 250

Normal Driving.......................... 195
Inside Mirror.................................... 81
Inspection, Tire.............................. 197

Instrument Panel............................. 52

Instrument Panel Brightness......... 62

Interior Cleaning............................ 216

Interior Light.................................... 86

Introduction......................................... i

Jacking up the Car......................... 221

Jack, Tire........................................ 221

Jump Starting................................. 227

Keys................................................... 69
Label, Certification........................ 244

Lane Change, Signaling.................. 62

Lap Belt............................................. 43

Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 42

Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 49

Lights
Bulb Replacement..................... 204
Indicator........................................ 53

Parking.......................................... 64

Turn Signal................................... 62

LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 70

Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 70Fuel Fill Door............................. 125
Power Door.................................. 71

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

Low Coolant Level......................... 128 Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 58
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 138
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 55, 231
Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 247

Luggage.......................................... 132

CONTINUED

Maintenance................................... 157

Owner Maintenance Checks.... 169

Record.................................. 167-168

Required Indicator....................... 59Main 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