
Instrument
s an d Control s
Thi s  sectio n give s informatio n abou t
th e control s an d  display s tha t
contribut e t o th e  dail y operatio n o f
you r Honda . Al l th e  essentia l
control s ar e withi n eas y reach .
 Contro
l Locations........................... . 5 2
Indicato r Lights............................... . 5 3
Gauges............................................. . 5 7
Speedometer............................... . 5 7
Tachometer................................. . 5 7
Odometer..................................... . 5 7
Tri p Meter................................... . 5 7
Fue l Gauge.................................. . 5 8
Temperatur e Gauge................... . 5 8
Maintenanc e Require d
Indicator................................... . 5 9
Control s Nea r th e Steerin g
Wheel....................................... . 6 0
Headlights................................... . 6 1
Daytim e Runnin g Lights............ . 6 1
Instrumen t Pane l Brightness.... . 6 2
Tur n Signals................................ . 6 2
Windshiel d Wipers..................... . 6 3
Windshiel d Washers.................. . 6 3
Hazar d Warning.......................... . 6 4
Rea r Windo w Defogger............. .  6 4
Steerin g Whee l Adjustment...... . 6 5
Steerin g Whee l Control s ............... . 6 6
Cruis e Control............................. . 6 6
Key s an d Locks............................... . 6 9
Keys............................................... 69
 Ignitio
n Switch............................ . 7 0
Doo r  Locks.................................. .  7 1
Powe r Doo r Locks...................... .  7 2
Remot e Transmitter................... .  7 3
Childproo f Doo r Locks.............. .  7 5
Trunk........................................... . 7 6
Sea t Adjustments............................ . 7 7
Fron t Sea t Adjustments............. .  7 7
Driver' s  Sea t Heigh t
Adjustment.............................. .  7 8
Hea d Restraints.......................... . 7 9
Foldin g Rea r Seat........................... .  8 0
Powe r Windows.............................. .  8 1
Moonroof......................................... . 8 3
Mirrors............................................. . 8 3
Adjustin g th e Powe r Mirrors.... . 8 4
Parkin g Brake................................. . 8 5
Glov e Box........................................ .  8 6
Beverag e  Holder............................. .  8 6
Accessor y Powe r Socket............... .  8 7
Ashtrays........................................... . 8 7
Interio r Lights................................. .  8 8
Ceilin g Light................................ .  8 8
Spotlights..................................... .  8 8
Instrument s an d Control s 

Indicato
r Light s
Supplementa l Restrain t
Syste m Indicato r
Thi s indicato r light s whe n yo u tur n
th e ignitio n switc h O N  (II) . I f i t
come s o n a t an y othe r time , i t
indicate s a  proble m in  th e
supplementa l restrain t system . Fo r
complet e information ,  se e pag e 47 .
Chargin g  Syste m
Indicato r
I f thi s ligh t come s o n whe n th e
engin e is  running , th e batter y is  no t
bein g charged . Fo r complet e
information , se e pag e 25 0 .
Lo w  Oi l  Pressur e
Indicato r
Th e engin e ca n b e severel y damage d
i f  thi s ligh t flashe s o r stay s o n whe n
th e engin e is  running . Fo r complet e
information ,  se e pag e 249 .
 U.S
.  Canad a  Parkin g Brak e
an d Brak e
Syste m
Indicato r
Thi s ligh t  ha s  tw o  functions :
1 .  I t light s  a s a  reminde r tha t yo u
hav e  no t  release d  th e  parkin g
brake .  Drivin g wit h  th e  parkin g
brak e  applie d  ca n  damag e  th e
brake s  an d  tires .
2 .  I f  i t  remain s li t  afte r yo u  releas e
th e  parkin g brake ,  o r  come s  o n
whil e  driving ,  i t  ca n  indicat e a
proble m  in th e  brak e  system .  Fo r
complet e  information ,  se e  pag e
252 . U.S
.  Canad a  Anti-loc k Brak e
Syste m  (ABS )
Indicato r
Only on models equipped with ABS (see
page 167)
Thi s ligh t normall y come s o n fo r a
fe w second s whe n yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h O N (II) , an d whe n
th e ignitio n switc h is  turne d to
STAR T (III) . I f thi s ligh t come s o n a t
an y othe r time , ther e is a  proble m in
th e ABS . I f thi s happens , tak e th e
ca r t o  you r deale r t o  hav e it checked .
Wit h th e ligh t on , you r ca r stil l ha s
norma l brakin g abilit y bu t n o anti -
lock . Fo r complet e information , se e
pag e 167 .
Instrument s an d Control s
BRAK
E
 
 AB
S
SR
S 

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l
Headlight s
Th e rotatin g switc h o n th e lef t leve r
control s th e lights . Turnin g thi s switc
h to  th e "   "  positio n turn s
o n th e parkin g lights , taillights ,
instrumen t pane l lights ,  side-marke r
lights , an d rea r licens e plat e lights . Turnin
g th e switc h t o th e "   "
positio n turn s o n th e headlights .I
f yo u leav e th e light s o n wit h th e
ignitio n switc h in  ACCESSOR Y  (I )
o r LOC K (0) , yo u wil l hea r a
reminde r beepe r whe n yo u ope n th e
driver' s  door .
T o chang e betwee n lo w beam s an d
hig h beams , pul l th e tur n signa l leve r
unti l yo u hea r a  click , the n le t go .
Th e blu e hig h bea m indicato r wil l
ligh t  (se e pag e 56 ). T
o flas h th e hig h beams , pul l th e
tur n signa l leve r bac k lightly , the n
releas e it . Th e hig h beam s wil l com e
o n an d g o off .
Th e hig h beam s wil l sta y o n fo r a s
lon g a s yo u hol d th e leve r back , n o
matte r wha t positio n th e headligh t
switc h is  in .
Daytim e Runnin g Light s
(Canadia n Models )
Wit h th e headligh t switc h off , th e
hig h bea m headlight s com e o n wit h
reduce d brightnes s whe n yo u tur n
th e ignitio n switc h to  O N  (II )  an d
releas e th e parkin g brake . The y
remai n o n unti l yo u tur n th e ignitio n
off , eve n if yo u  se t th e parkin g brake .
Th e headlight s rever t t o norma l
operatio n whe n yo u tur n the m o n
wit h th e switch .
Instrument s an d Control s 

Steerin
g Whee l Control s
Yo u ca n decreas e th e se t cruisin g
spee d in  an y o f thes e ways :
Pres s an d hol d th e SET/dece l
button . Th e ca r wil l decelerate .
Releas e th e butto n whe n yo u
reac h th e desire d speed .
T o slo w dow n in  ver y smal l
amounts , ta p th e SET/dece l
butto n repeatedly . Eac h tim e yo u
d o  this , you r ca r wil l slo w dow n
abou t 1  mp h  (1. 6 km/h) .
Ta p th e brake  or clutc h peda l
lightl y wit h you r foot . Th e
CRUIS E CONTRO L ligh t o n th e
instrumen t pane l wil l g o out .
Whe n th e ca r slow s t o  th e desire d
speed , pres s th e SET/dece l button .
Th e ca r wil l the n maintai n th e
desire d speed . Eve
n wit h th e cruis e contro l turne d
on , yo u ca n stil l us e th e accelerato r
peda l t o  spee d u p fo r passing . Afte r
completin g th e pass , tak e you r foo t
of f th e accelerato r pedal . Th e ca r
wil l retur n to  th e se t cruisin g speed .
Restin g you r foo t o n th e brak e o r
clutc h peda l wil l caus e th e cruis e
contro l t o cancel .
 Cancelling the Cruise Control
Yo u ca n cance l th e cruis e contro l i n
an y o f thes e ways :
Ta p th e brak e o r clutc h pedal .
Pres s th e SET/dece l an d RE -
SUME/acce l button s a t th e  sam e
time .
Pres s th e Cruis e Contro l Maste r
Switch .
Instrument s an d Control s 

Parkin
g Brak e
T o appl y th e parkin g brake , pul l th e
leve r u p fully . T o releas e it , pul l u p
slightly , pus h th e button , an d lowe r
th e lever . Th e parkin g brak e ligh t o n
th e instrumen t pane l shoul d g o ou t
whe n th e parkin g brak e is full y
release d  (se e pag e 55 ). Driving the car with the parking brake
applied can damage the rear brakes
and axles.
Instruments an d Control s
PARKIN
G  BRAK E  LEVE R NOTIC
E 

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s
5 . Scre w th e fue l fil l ca p bac k on ,
tighte n it unti l i t click s a t leas t
thre e times . I f yo u d o no t properl y
tighte n th e cap , th e Malfunctio n
Indicato r Lam p ma y com e o n  (se e
pag e 251 ).
6 . Pus h th e fue l fil l doo r close d unti l
i t  latches . Openin
g th e Hoo d
HOOD
RELEAS E
HANDL E
1 . Shif t t o  Par k o r Neutra l an d se t
th e parkin g brake . Pul l th e hoo d
releas e handl e locate d unde r th e
lowe r lef t corne r o f th e  dashboard .
Th e hoo d wil l po p u p slightly .
 LATC
H
2 . Standin g in  fron t o f th e car , pu t
you r finger s unde r th e fron t  edg e
o f th e hoo d t o th e righ t o f center .
Slid e you r han d t o th e lef t unti l
yo u fee l th e hoo d latc h handle .
Pus h thi s handl e u p unti l i t
release s th e hood . Lif t th e hood .
Befor e Drivin g 

Parkin
g
Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r car . Th e indicato r o n
th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t th e
parkin g brak e is no t full y released ; i t
doe s no t indicat e tha t th e parkin g
brak e is firml y set . Mak e sur e th e
parkin g brak e is se t firml y o r you r
ca r ma y rol l i f i t i s  parke d o n a n
incline .
I f you r ca r ha s a n automati c
transmission , se t th e parkin g brak e
befor e yo u pu t th e transmissio n in
Park . Thi s keep s th e ca r fro m
movin g an d puttin g pressur e o n th e
parkin g mechanis m in  th e
transmissio n  —   makin g it easie r t o
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f Par k
whe n yo u wan t t o  driv e away . I
f th e  ca r i s facin g uphill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s  awa y fro m th e  curb .  I f
yo u  hav e a  manua l transmission ,  pu t
i t  i n firs t  gear .
I f th e  ca r i s facin g downhill , tur n th e
fron t  wheel s  towar d  th e  curb .  I f yo u
hav e  a  manua l transmission ,  pu t i t i n
revers e  gear .
Mak e  sur e  th e parkin g brak e  i s full y
release d  befor e  drivin g  away .
Drivin g wit h  th e  parkin g  brak e
partiall y  se t  ca n  overhea t  o r  damag e
th e  rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s Mak
e  sur e th e moonroo f  an d th e
window s  ar e  closed .
Tur n  of f th e  lights .
Plac e  an y packages , valuables ,  etc. ,
i n  th e trun k o r tak e the m wit h you .
Loc k th e  door s wit h th e ke y o r th e
remot e  transmitter . Neve
r par k  ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass ,  o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e  thre e wa y  catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot ,  an d  coul d
caus e thes e material s t o  catc h  o n
fire .
Driving 

Th
e Brakin g Syste m
Al l Civic s ar e equippe d wit h fron t
dis c brakes . Th e brake s o n th e rea r
wheel s ar e drum . A  powe r assis t
help s reduc e th e effor t neede d o n
th e brak e pedal .
Pu t you r foo t o n th e brak e peda l onl y
whe n yo u inten d t o brake . Restin g
you r foo t o n th e peda l keep s th e
brake s applie d lightly , causin g the m
t o  buil d u p heat . Hea t build-u p ca n
reduc e ho w wel l you r brake s work . I t
als o keep s you r brak e light s o n al l
th e time , confusin g driver s behin d
you .
 Constan
t applicatio n o f th e brake s
whe n goin g dow n a  lon g hil l build s
u p hea t an d reduce s thei r effective -
ness . Us e th e engin e to  assis t th e
brake s b y downshiftin g to  a  lowe r
gea r an d takin g you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r pedal .
Chec k you r brake s afte r drivin g
throug h dee p water . Appl y th e
brake s moderatel y t o   se e if the y fee l
normal . I f not , appl y the m gentl y an d
frequentl y unti l the y do . Sinc e a
longe r distanc e is neede d to  sto p
wit h we t brakes , b e extr a cautiou s
an d aler t i n  you r driving .
 Brak
e Wea r Indicator s
Th e fron t dis c brake s o n al l model s
hav e audibl e brak e wea r indicators .
Whe n th e brak e pad s nee d replacing ,
yo u wil l hea r a  distinctiv e metalli c
"screeching " soun d whe n yo u appl y
th e brakes . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
brak e pad s replaced , the y wil l begi n
screechin g al l th e time .
You r brake s ma y sometime s squea l
o r squea k whe n yo u appl y the m
lightly . D o no t confus e thi s wit h th e
brak e wea r indicators . The y mak e a
ver y audibl e "screeching. "
Drivin g