2000 HONDA CIVIC COUPE flat tire

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modification s
D o no t remov e an y origina l
equipmen t o r modif y you r ca r i n an y
wa y tha t woul d alte r it s desig n o r
operation . Thi s coul d mak e you r ca r
unsaf e an d illega l t o drive .
Fo r example , d o no t mak e an y
modification s tha t woul d chang e th e
rid e heigh t o f you r car , o r instal l
wheel s an d tire s wit h a differen t
overal l diameter .
Suc h modification s ca n adversel y
affec t handling , an d interfer e wit h
th e operatio n o f th e car' s anti-loc k
brake s an d othe r systems . I
n addition , an y modification s tha t
decreas e groun d clearanc e increas e
th e chanc e o f undercarriag e part s
strikin g a curb , spee d bump , o r othe r
raise d object , whic h coul d caus e
you r airbag s t o deploy .
D o no t modif y you r steerin g whee l
o r an y othe r par t o f you r
Supplementa l Restrain t System .
Modification s coul d mak e th e
syste m ineffective . Additiona
l Safet y Precautio n
D o no t attac h o r plac e object s o n th e
airba g covers . An y objec t attache d to
o r place d o n th e cover s marke d "SR S
AIRBAG, " i n th e cente r o f th e
steerin g whee l an d o n to p o f th e
dashboard , coul d interfer e wit h th e
prope r operatio n o f th e airbags . Or ,
i f th e airbag s inflate , th e object s
coul d b e propelle d insid e th e ca r an d
hur t someone .

Befor e Drivin g

Maintenanc
e

Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r ca r wel l
maintaine d an d t o follo w basi c
maintenanc e safet y precautions .
Thi s sectio n als o include s
Maintenanc e Schedule s fo r norma l
drivin g an d sever e drivin g conditions ,
a Maintenanc e Record , an d instruc -
tion s fo r simpl e maintenanc e task s
yo u ma y wan t t o tak e car e o f
yourself .
I f yo u hav e th e skill s an d tool s t o per -
for m mor e comple x maintenanc e
task s o n you r Honda , yo u ma y wan t
t o purchas e th e Servic e Manual . Se e
pag e 27 9 fo r informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a

dealer .
Maintenanc
e Safety...................... . 17 4
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 17 5
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 17 6

Maintenanc e Record.................... . 18 3

Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 18 5
Flui d Locations.............................. . 18 6

Engin e Oil...................................... . 18 7

Addin g Oil.................................. . 18 7

Recommende d Oil.................... . 18 7
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 18 8

Additives.................................... . 18 8

Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 18 9

Coolin g System............................. . 19 1

Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 19 1
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 19 3
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 19 6

Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 19 7

Automati c

Transmission......................... . 19 7

5-spee d Manua l

Transmission......................... . 19 8

Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 19 8

Brak e System............................ . 19 9
Clutc h System........................... . 19 9

Powe r Steering.............................. . 20 0

Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 20 1 Hoo
d Latch.................................... . 20 2
Spar k Plugs.................................... . 20 3

Replacement.............................. . 20 3

Specifications............................ . 20 4

Battery........................................... . 20 5

Wipe r Blades................................. . 20 7
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 20 9
Driv e Belts..................................... . 21 0

Timin g Belt.................................... . 21 0

Tires............................................... . 21 1
Inflation...................................... . 21 1

Recommende d Tir e Pressure s

fo r Norma l Driving........... . 21 2

Tir e Pressur e Adjustmen t fo r

Hig h Spee d Driving.......... . 21 2
Inspection.................................. . 21 3
Maintenance.............................. . 21 3
Tir e Rotation............................. . 21 4

Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 21 5

Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 21 6
Winte r Driving.......................... . 21 6

Sno w Tires............................. . 21 6

Tir e Chains............................ . 21 7
Lights............................................. . 21 8
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 22 0

Storin g You r Car........................... . 22 9

Maintenanc e

Tire
s

T o safel y operat e you r car , you r tire s
mus t b e th e prope r typ e an d size , i n

goo d conditio n wit h adequat e tread ,

an d correctl y inflated . Th e followin g

page s giv e mor e detaile d informatio n
o n ho w an d whe n to chec k ai r
pressure , ho w to inspec t you r tire s
fo r damag e an d wear , an d wha t t o d o
whe n you r tire s nee d to b e replaced .
Inflatio
n

Keepin g th e tire s properl y inflate d
provide s th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , trea d lif e an d ridin g
comfort . Underinflate d tire s wea r
unevenly , adversel y affec t handlin g
an d fue l economy , an d ar e mor e
likel y t o fai l fro m bein g overheated .
Overinflate d tire s ca n mak e you r ca r
rid e mor e harshly , ar e mor e pron e t o
damag e fro m roa d hazards , an d wea r

unevenly .

W e recommen d tha t yo u visuall y
chec k you r tire s ever y day . I f yo u
thin k a tir e migh t b e low , chec k i t
immediatel y wit h a tir e gauge .
Us e a gaug e to measur e th e ai r
pressur e a t leas t onc e a month . Eve n
tire s tha t ar e in goo d conditio n ma y
los e on e to tw o ps i (1 0 to 2 0 kPa , 0. 1
t o 0. 2 kgf/cm 2) pe r month .
Remembe r t o chec k th e spar e tir e a t
th e sam e tim e yo u chec k al l th e
othe r tires . Chec
k th e pressur e in th e tire s whe n
the y ar e cold . Thi s mean s th e ca r
ha s bee n parke d fo r a t leas t thre e
hours . I f yo u hav e to driv e th e ca r
befor e checkin g th e tir e pressure ,
th e tire s ca n stil l b e considere d
"cold " i f yo u driv e les s tha n 1 mil e

(1.6km) .

I f yo u chec k th e pressur e whe n th e
tire s ar e ho t (th e ca r ha s bee n drive n
severa l miles) , yo u wil l se e reading s
4 to 6 ps i (3 0 to 4 0
kPa ,
0. 3 to 0. 4
kgf/cm 2) highe r tha n th e col d
reading . Thi s is normal . D o no t le t
ai r ou t t o matc h th e specifie d col d
pressure . Th e tir e wil l b e

underinflated .

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Usin
g tire s tha t ar e excessivel y
wor n o r improperl y inflate d ca n
caus e a cras h i n whic h yo u ca n
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l instruction s i n thi s
owner' s manua l regardin g tir e
inflatio n an d maintenance .

Tire
s

Inspectio n
Ever y tim e yo u chec k inflation , yo u
shoul d als o examin e th e tire s fo r
damage , foreig n objects , an d wear .
Yo u shoul d loo k for :
Bump s o r bulge s i n th e trea d o r
sid e o f th e tire . Replac e th e tir e if
yo u fin d eithe r o f thes e conditions .
Cuts , splits , o r crack s in th e sid e
o f th e tire . Replac e th e tir e if yo u
ca n se e fabri c o r cord . Excessiv
e trea d wear . INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MARK S
TREA D WEA R INDICATO R
You r car' s tire s hav e wea r indicator s
molde d int o th e tread . Whe n th e
trea d wear s dow n t o tha t point , yo u
wil l se e a 1/ 2 inc h (12. 7 mm ) wid e
ban d runnin g acros s th e tread . Thi s
show s ther e is les s tha n 1/1 6 inc h
(1. 6 mm ) o f trea d lef t o n th e tire . A
tir e tha t i s thi s wor n give s ver y littl e
tractio n o n we t roads . Yo u shoul d
replac e th e tir e if yo u ca n se e th e
trea d wea r indicato r i n thre e o r mor e
place s aroun d th e tire . Maintenanc
e
I n additio n t o prope r inflation ,
correc t whee l alignmen t help s t o
decreas e tir e wear . I f yo u fin d a tir e
i s wor n unevenly , hav e you r deale r
chec k th e whee l alignment .
Th e tire s wer e properl y balance d b y
th e factory . The y ma y nee d t o b e
rebalance d a t som e tim e befor e the y
ar e wor n out . Hav e you r deale r
chec k th e tire s i f yo u fee l a consis -
ten t vibratio n whil e driving . A tir e
shoul d alway s b e rebalance d i f i t i s
remove d fro m th e whee l fo r repair .

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Compac
t Spar e Tir e

You r ca r ha s a compac t spar e tir e
tha t take s up les s space . Us e thi s
spar e tir e a s a temporar y replace -
men t only . Ge t you r regula r tir e
repaire d o r replace d an d pu t bac k o n
you r ca r a s soo n a s yo u can .
Chec k th e inflatio n pressur e o f th e
compac t spar e tir e ever y tim e yo u
chec k th e othe r tires . I t shoul d b e
inflate d to :
6 0 ps i (42 0 kP a , 4. 2 kgf/cm 2)
Follo
w thes e precaution s wheneve r
yo u ar e usin g th e compac t spar e tire :
D o no t excee d 5 0 mp h (8 0 km/h )
unde r an y circumstances .
Thi s tir e give s a harshe r rid e an d
les s tractio n o n som e roa d sur -
face s tha n th e regula r tire . Us e
greate r cautio n whil e drivin g o n

thi s tire .

D o no t moun t sno w chain s o n th e
compac t spare .
Th e whee l o f th e compac t spar e tir
e is designe d especiall y to fi t
you r car . D o no t us e you r spar e
tir e o n anothe r vehicl e unles s it i s
th e sam e mak e an d model .
Th
e compac t spar e tir e ha s a shorte r
trea d lif e tha n a regula r tire . Replac e
i t whe n yo u ca n se e th e trea d wea r
indicato r bars . Th e replacemen t
shoul d b e th e sam e siz e an d desig n
tire , mounte d o n th e sam e wheel .
Th e compac t spar e tir e i s no t
designe d t o b e mounte d o n a regula r
wheel , an d th e compac t whee l i s no t
designe d fo r mountin g a regula r tire .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MAR K
TREA D WEA R INDICATO R BA R

Emergenc
y Towin g

I f you r ca r need s t o b e towed , cal l a
professiona l towin g servic e or , i f yo u
belon g to one , a n organizatio n tha t
provide s roadside assistance . Neve r
to w you r ca r behin d anothe r vehicl e
wit h jus t a rop e o r chain . I t i s ver y

dangerous .

Ther e ar e thre e popula r type s o f
professiona l towin g equipment .

Flat-bed Equipment — Th e operato r

load s you r ca r o n th e bac k o f a truck .
Thi s i s th e bes t wa y t o transpor t
you r Honda .
Wheel-Lift Equipment — Th e to w
truc k use s tw o pivotin g arm s tha t g o
unde r th e tire s (fron t o r rear ) an d lif t
the m of f th e ground . Th e othe r tw o
tire s remai n o n th e ground . Thi s is
a n acceptabl e wa y t o to w you r
Honda .

Sling-type Equipment — Th e to w

truc k use s meta l cable s wit h hook s o
n th e ends . Thes e hook s g o aroun d
part s o f th e fram e o r suspensio n an d
th e cable s lif t tha t en d o f th e ca r of f
th e ground . You r car' s suspensio n
an d bod y ca n b e seriousl y damaged .
Thi s metho d o f towin g is
unacceptable .
I f you r Hond a canno t b e transporte d
b y flat-bed , i t shoul d b e towe d b y
wheel-lif t equipmen t wit h th e fron t
wheel s of f th e ground . I f du e t o
damage , you r ca r mus t b e towe d
wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
d o th e following :

5-speed Manual Transmission
Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Shif t th e transmissio n t o Neutral .

Automatic Transmission
Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Star t th e engine .
Shif t t o D4 , the n t o N .
Tur n of f th e engine .
Improper towing preparation will

damage the transmission. Follow the

above procedure exactly. If you cannot

shift the transmission or start the

engine (automatic transmission), your

car must be transported with the front

wheels off the ground.

Wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
i t i s bes t t o to w th e ca r n o farthe r
tha n 5 0 mile s (8 0 km) , an d kee p th e
spee d belo w 3 5 mp h (5 5 km/h) .
I f you r ca r i s equippe d wit h a fron t
spoiler , remov e it befor e towin g s o it
i s no t damaged .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E

DO
T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g (U.S . Cars )

Temperatur e
Th e temperatur e grade s ar e A (th e
highest) , B , an d C , representin g th e
tire' s resistanc e to th e generatio n o f
hea t an d it s abilit y t o dissipat e hea t
whe n teste d unde r controlle d
condition s o n a specifie d indoo r
laborator y tes t wheel . Sustaine d hig h
temperatur e ca n caus e th e materia l
o f th e tir e to degenerat e an d reduc e
tir e life , an d excessiv e temperatur e
ca n lea d to sudde n tir e failure . Th e
grad e C correspond s t o a leve l o f
performanc e whic h al l passenge r ca r
tire s mus t mee t unde r th e Federa l
Moto r Vehicl e Safet y Standar d No .
109 . Grade s B an d A represen t
highe r level s o f performanc e o n th e
laborator y tes t whee l tha n th e
minimu m require d b y law . Warning
: Th e temperatur e grad e fo r
thi s tir e i s establishe d fo r a tir e tha t
i s properl y inflate d an d no t over -
loaded . Excessiv e speed , underinfla -
tion , o r excessiv e loadin g eithe r
separatel y o r i n combination , ca n
caus e hea t build-u p an d possibl e tir e
failure .

Technical Informatio n

Inde
x

Reminde r Beeper........................ . 6 1
Replacin g Haloge n Bulb s ........ . 22 0

Turnin g on................................... . 6 1

Hea d Restraints.............................. . 7 9

Heatin g an d Cooling....................... . 9 0

Hig h Altitude , Startin g at............. . 15 7
High-Lo w Bea m Switch................. . 6 1
High-moun t Brak e Light.............. . 22 5

Hoo d Latch.................................... . 20 2

Hood , Openin g the....................... . 14 4

Horn.............................................. . 3 , 6 0

Ho t Coolant , Warnin g about....... . 19 1

Hydrauli c Clutch........................... . 19 9

Hydroplaning................................. . 17 1

Identificatio n Number , Vehicle... . 26 2

I f You r Ca r Ha s to b e Towed...... . 25 9

Ignitio n

Keys.............................................. . 6 9

Switch........................................... . 7 0

Timin g Contro l System............ . 27 1

Importan t Safet y Precaution s ......... . 6

Indicato r Lights , Instrumen t

Panel............................................. . 5 3
Infan
t Restraint............................... . 2 9
Inflation , Prope r Tir e ................... . 21 1

Hig h Spee d Driving.................. . 21 2

Norma l Driving......................... . 21 2

Insid e Mirror................................... . 8 3

Inspection , Tire............................. . 21 3

Instrumen t Panel........................ . 2 , 5 2
Instrumen t Pane l Brightness........ . 6 2
Interio r Cleaning........................... . 23 4
Interio r Lights................................. . 8 8
Introduction........................................ . i

Jackin g u p th e Car........................ . 24 0

Jack , Tire....................................... . 23 9

Jum p Starting................................ . 24 5

Keys.................................................. . 6 9

Label , Certification....................... . 26 2

Lan e Change , Signaling................. . 6 2
La
p Belt............................................ . 4 3
Lap/Shoulde r Belts........................ . 4 2
Leakin g o f Exhaus t int o Car......... . 4 9
Light s
Bul b Replacement.................... . 22 0

Indicator....................................... . 5 3

Parking......................................... . 6 1

Tur n Signal.................................. . 6 2

Loa d Limit..................................... . 15 2
LOC K (Ignitio n Ke y Position)...... . 7 0

Lock s

Anti-thef t Steerin g Column....... . 7 0
Fue l Fil l Door............................ . 14 3
Powe r Door................................. . 7 2

Trunk........................................... . 7 6

Lo w Coolan t Level........................ . 14 7
Lo w Fue l Indicator......................... . 5 6
Lowe r Gear , Downshiftin g to a... . 15 8
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator... . 55 , 24 9
Lubrican t Specification s Chart... . 26 4

Luggage......................................... . 15 1

CONTINUED