1999 HONDA CIVIC COUPE engine overheat

5-speed Manual Transmission

The manual transmission is syn- chronized in all forward shears forsmooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from Fifth to Reverse. When shifting up or down, make sure you push the clutch
pedal down all the way, shift to the
next gear, and let the pedal up
gradually. When you are not shifting, do not rest your foot on the clutch
pedal. This can cause your clutch to
wear out faster. Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shift into Reverse with the vehicle moving.
Push down the clutch pedal, and
pause for a few seconds before shifting into Reverse, or shift into
one of the forward gears for a
moment. This stops the gears so
they won't "grind."
When slowing down, you can get extra braking from the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe speed and prevent your brakes from
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Before downshifting,
make sure engine speed will not go
into the tachometer's red zone in the
lower gear. Refer to the Maximum
Allowable Speeds chart.

Driving
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Spark Plugs

5. Torque the spark plug. (If you do not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn after it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque: 13 lbf.ft (18 N.m, 1.8 kgf.m) Tighten the spark plugs carefully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine. Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.

6. Install the spark plug cap.

7. Repeat this procedure for the other three spark plugs.
Specifications:

(U.S.: HX)
NGK: ZFR4F-11DENSO: KJ14CR-L11
(U.S.: DX, EX, Canada: DX, Si) NGK: ZFR5F-11
DENSO: KJ16CR-L11

(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)
NGK: PFR6L-13
DENSO: PK20PR-L13

Spark Plug Gap:
0.04 in (1.1 mm)
Maintenance
NOTICEMain 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

If Your Engine Overheats
The pointer of your car's tempera- ture gauge should stay in the mid-range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a long steep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.

Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause serious damage to your engine. Your car can overheat for several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only

indication may be the temperature

gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or spray coming from under the hood.
In either case, you should take

immediate action.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral orPark and set the parking brake.
Turn off the heating and cooling system and all other accessories.
Turn on the hazard warning indicators.
2. If you see steam and/or spray coming from under the hood, turnoff the engine.
3. If you do not see steam or spray, leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading (climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately. If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected

NOTICE

Steam and spray from an

overheated engine can

seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

If Your Engine Overheats
4. If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs of steam or spray, then open the

hood.

6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot, so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see Emergency
Towing on page 241).
7. If you don't find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page112). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check-
ing the radiator.
9. Using gloves or a large heavy cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes off. 10.Start the engine and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the filler
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.Remember to have the coolingsystem drained and refilled with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.

11.Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine and watchthe temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See Emergency
Towing on page 241.)
12.If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the MAX mark. Put the cap back on

tightly.

Taking Care of the Unexpected
Removing the radiator cap

while the engine is hot can

cause the coolant to spray out, seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine and radiator cool down before

removing the radiator cap.Main 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

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