2000 HONDA CIVIC COUPE engine overheat

Spar
k Plug s

5 . Torqu e th e spar k plug . (I f yo u d o
no t hav e a torqu e wrench , tighte n
th e spar k plu g two-third s o f a tur n
afte r i t contact s th e cylinde r head. )
Tightenin g torque :
1 3 lbf·f t (1 8 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 . Instal l th e spar k plu g cap .
7 . Repea t thi s procedur e fo r th e
othe r thre e spar k plugs . Specifications
:

NGK :

DENSO :
ZFR5F-1
1

KJ16CR-L1 1

Spar k Plu g Gap :

0.0 4 in
(1. 1
mm )

Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s
Th e pointe r o f you r car' s tempera -
tur e gaug e shoul d sta y in th e mid -
rang e unde r mos t conditions . I t ma y
g o highe r i f yo u ar e drivin g u p a lon g
stee p hil l o n a ver y ho t day . I f i t
climb s t o th e re d mark , yo u shoul d
determin e th e reason .
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause serious damage to your engine. You
r ca r ca n overhea t fo r severa l
reasons , suc h a s lac k o f coolan t o r a
mechanica l problem . Th e onl y
indicatio n ma y b e th e temperatur e
gaug e climbin g to o r abov e th e re d
mark . O r yo u ma y se e stea m o r
spra y comin g fro m unde r th e hood .
I n eithe r case , yo u shoul d tak e
immediat e action . 1
. Safel y pul l t o th e sid e o f th e road .
Pu t th e transmissio n in Neutra l o r
Par k an d se t th e parkin g brake .
Tur n of f th e heatin g an d coolin g
syste m an d al l othe r accessories .
Tur n o n th e hazar d warnin g
indicators .
2 . I f yo u se e stea m and/o r spra y
comin g fro m unde r th e hood , tur n
of f th e engine .
3 . I f yo u d o no t se e stea m o r spray ,
leav e th e engin e runnin g an d
watc h th e temperatur e gauge . I f
th e hig h hea t i s du e t o overloadin g
(climbin g a long , stee p hil l o n a
ho t da y wit h th e A/ C running , fo r
example) , th e engin e shoul d star t
t o coo l dow n almos t immediately .
I f i t does , wai t unti l th e tempera -
tur e gaug e come s dow n to th e mid -
poin t the n continu e driving .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Stea
m an d spra y fro m a n
overheate d engin e ca n
seriousl y scal d you .
D o no t ope n th e hood if stea m
i s comin g out .

NOTIC
E

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s

4 . I f th e temperatur e gaug e stay s a t
th e re d mark , tur n of f th e engine .
5 . Wai t unti l yo u se e n o mor e sign s
o f stea m or spray , the n ope n th e

hood .

6 . Loo k fo r an y obviou s coolan t leaks ,
suc h a s a spli t radiato r hose .
Everythin g is stil l extremel y hot ,
s o us e caution . I f yo u fin d a leak , i t
mus t b e repaire d befor e yo u
continu e drivin g (se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 259 ).
7 . I f yo u don' t fin d a n obviou s leak ,
chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tan k (se e pag e
147 ). I f th e leve l i s belo w th e
MI N mark , ad d coolan t t o halfwa y
betwee n th e MI N an d MA X marks .
8 . I f ther e wa s n o coolan t i n th e
reserv e tank , yo u ma y als o hav e to
ad d coolan t t o th e radiator . Le t th e
engin e coo l dow n unti l th e pointe r reache
s th e middl e o f th e tempera -
tur e gauge , o r lower , befor e check -
in g th e radiator .
9 . Usin g glove s o r a larg e heav y
cloth , tur n th e radiato r ca p
counterclockwise , withou t pushin g
down , t o th e firs t stop . Thi s
release s an y remainin g pressur e in
th e coolin g system . Afte r th e
pressur e releases , pus h dow n o n
th e ca p an d tur n it unti l i t come s
off . 10.Star
t th e engin e an d se t th e
temperatur e contro l dia l t o
maximum . Ad d coolan t t o th e
radiato r u p to th e bas e o f th e fille r
neck . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
prope r coolan t mixtur e available ,
yo u ca n ad d plai n water .
Remembe r t o hav e th e coolin g
syste m draine d an d refille d wit h
th e prope r mixtur e a s soo n a s yo u

can .

11.Pu t th e radiato r ca p bac k o n
tightly . Ru n th e engin e an d watc h
th e temperatur e gauge . I f i t goe s
bac k t o th e re d mark , th e engin e
need s repair . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 25 9 .)
12.I f th e temperatur e stay s normal ,
chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tank . I f i t ha s
gon e down , ad d coolan t t o th e
MA X mark . Pu t th e ca p bac k o n

tightly .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Removin
g th e radiato r ca p
whil e th e engin e i s ho t ca n
caus e th e coolan t t o spra y out ,
seriousl y scaldin g you .
Alway s le t th e engin e an d
radiato r coo l dow n befor e
removin g th e radiato r cap .

Inde
x

Clutc h Fluid................................... . 19 9

C O in th e Exhaust........................ . 27 0

Col d Weather , Startin g in............ . 15 7

Compac t Spare.............................. . 23 8

Consume r Information*............... . 27 4
Controls , Instrument s and............. .
51

Coolan t

Adding........................................ . 19 1

Checking.................................... .
14
7

Prope r Solution......................... . 19 1

Replacing................................... . 19 3

Temperatur e Gauge................... . 5 8

Corrosio n Protection.................... . 23 5

Crankcas e Emission s Contro l

System........................................ . 27 0

Cruis e Contro l Operation.............. . 6 6
Custome r Relation s Office.......... . 27 4
DANGER , Explanatio n of................ . i i
Dashboard................................... . 2 , 5 2
Daytim e Runnin g Lights................ . 6 1
Dea d Battery , Wha t t o Do........... . 24 5
Defects , Reportin g Safety............ . 28 0
Defo g an d Defrost.......................... . 9 5 Defogger
, Rea r Window................ . 6 4
Defrostin g th e Windows................ . 9 5
DEXRON ® II I Automati c
Transmissio n Fluid................... . 19 7
Dimensions.................................... . 26 4
Dimmin g th e Headlights............... . 6 1
Dipstic k
Automati c Transmission.......... . 19 7

Engin e Oil.................................. . 14 6

Directiona l Signals.......................... . 6 2

Disabled , Towin g You r Ca r If..... . 25 9

Dis c Brak e Wea r Indicators........ . 16 6
Disposa l o f Use d Oil..................... . 19 0
Door s
Lockin g an d Unlocking.............. . 7 1
Powe r Doo r Locks...................... . 7 2
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading.......... . 26 6
Downshifting , 5-spee d Manua l
Transmission............................. . 15 8
Driv e Belts..................................... . 21 0
Drive r an d Passenge r Safety........... . 5
Driving........................................... . 15 5
Economy.................................... . 14 8
I n Ba d Weather......................... . 17 0
I n Foreig n Countries................ . 26 9 Economy
, Fuel.............................. . 14 8
Emergencie s o n th e Road............ . 23 7
Battery , Jum p Starting............. . 24 5
Brak e Syste m Indicator............ 252
Changin g a Fla t Tire................ . 23 9
Chargin g Syste m Indicator..... . 25 0
Checkin g th e Fuses.................. . 25 5
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 24 9
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lamp... . 25 1
Manuall y Closin g Moonroof... . 25 3
Overheate d Engine.................. . 24 7
Emergenc y Brake........................... . 8 5
Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 6 4
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 25 9
Emission s Controls....................... . 27 0

Engin e

Coolan t Temperatur e Gaug e .... . 5 8
Driv e Belts................................. . 21 0
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp................................ .56, 25 1
Oi l Pressur e Indicator........ . 55 , 24 9
Oil , Wha t Kin d to Use.............. . 18 7

CONTINUED

Inde
x

Maintenance.................................. . 17 3

Owne r Maintenanc e Checks... . 18 5

Record................................. .183 -
184

Require d Indicator...................... .
5
9

Safety.......................................... . 17 4

Schedule............................. .178 -

182

Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp.
. 56 , 25 1

Manua l Transmission................... . 15 8

Manua l Transmissio n Flui d ........ . 19 8

Meters , Gauges............................... . 5 7

Methano l i n Gasoline................... . 26 8

Mirrors , Adjusting.......................... . 8 3

Moonroof......................................... . 8 3

Closin g Manually...................... . 25 3

Operation..................................... . 8 3

Neutra l Gea r Position................... . 16 2

Ne w Vehicl e Break-i n .................. . 14 2

Norma l Shif t Speeds..................... . 15 9

NOTICE , Explanatio n of................... .

i

Numbers, Identification............... .
26
2
Octan
e Requirement , Gasoline... . 14 2
Odometer......................................... . 5 7

Odometer , Trip............................... . 5 7

Oi l

Change , Ho w to ........................ . 18 9

Change , Whe n to...................... . 17 8

Checkin g Engine...................... . 14 6
Pressur e Indicator.............. . 55 , 24 9
Selectin g Prope r Viscosit y
Chart...................................... . 18 8
O N (Ignitio n Ke y Position)........... . 7 1
Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recovery.................................... . 27 0
Openin g th e Hood........................ . 14 4
Openin g th e Trunk......................... . 7 6
Operatio n in Foreig n Countries.. . 26 9
Outsid e Mirrors.............................. . 8 3
Overheating , Engine.................... . 24 7
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 18 5
Oxygenate d Fuels......................... . 26 8

Pain t Touch-up.............................. . 23 3
Pane
l Brightnes s Control.............. . 6 2

Par k Gea r Position........................ . 16 1

Parking........................................... . 16 5

Parkin g Brake................................. . 8 5

Parkin g Lights................................. . 6 1

Parkin g Ove r Thing s tha t Burn.. . 27 2

PGM-F I System............................. . 27 1

Polishin g an d Waxing.................. . 23 3

Powe r

Doo r Locks.................................. . 7 2

Mirrors......................................... . 8 4

Steering...................................... . 20 0

Windows...................................... . 8 1

Pre-Driv e Safet y Checklist............ . 1 1
Pregnancy , Usin g Sea t Belts......... . 1 9

Protectin g Adults............................ . 1 2

Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 1 9
Advic e fo r Pregnan t Women..... . 1 9

Protectin g Children........................ . 2 1

Protectin g Infants....................... . 2 9

Protectin g Large r Children....... . 3 7

Protectin g Smal l Children......... . 3 3

Usin g Chil d Seat s wit h

Tethers..................................... . 4 0