2000 HONDA CIVIC COUPE oil

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

Oil Check
Chec k th e engin e oi l leve l ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e ca r wit h fuel . Wai t a fe w
minute s afte r turnin g th e engin e of f
befor e yo u chec k th e oil .
1 . Remov e th e dipstic k (orang e

handle) .
2
. Wip e th e dipstic k wit h a clea n

clot h o r pape r towel .
3
. Inser t i t al l th e wa y bac k in it s tube .
Befor e Drivin g

DIPSTIC
K

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

Maintenanc
e Safet y
Regularl y maintainin g you r ca r i s th e
bes t wa y t o protec t you r investment .
Prope r maintenanc e i s essentia l t o
you r safet y an d th e safet y o f you r
passengers . I t wil l als o rewar d yo u
wit h mor e economical , trouble-fre e
drivin g an d hel p reduc e ai r pollution .Thi
s sectio n include s instruction s fo r
simpl e maintenanc e tasks , suc h a s
checkin g an d addin g oil . An y servic e
item s no t detaile d i n thi s sectio n
shoul d b e performe d b y a Hond a
technicia n o r othe r qualifie d
mechanic . Som
e o f th e mos t importan t safet y
precaution s ar e give n here . However ,
w e canno t war n yo u o f ever y
conceivabl e hazar d tha t ca n aris e i n
performin g maintenance . Onl y yo u
ca n decid e whethe r o r no t yo u
shoul d perfor m a give n task .

Maintenanc e

Improperl
y maintainin g thi s ca r
o r failin g t o correc t a proble m
befor e drivin g ca n caus e a
cras h in whic h yo u ca n b e
seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Alway s follo w th e inspectio n
an d maintenanc e
recommendation s an d
schedule s i n thi s owner' s manual. Failur
e t o properl y follo w
maintenanc e instruction s an d
precaution s ca n caus e yo u t o
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Alway s follo w th e procedure s
an d precaution s i n thi s owner' s
manual .

Engin
e Oi l

Addin g Oi l
T o ad d oil , unscre w an d remov e th e
engin e oi l fil l ca p o n to p o f th e valv e
cover . Pou r i n th e oil , an d instal l th e
engin e oi l fil l cap . Tighte n it securely .
Wai t a fe w minute s an d rechec k th e
oi l level . D o no t fil l abov e th e uppe r
mark ; yo u coul d damag e th e engine .Recommende
d Oi l
Oi l i s a majo r contributo r t o you r
engine' s performanc e an d longevity .
Alway s us e a premium-grad e deter -
gen t oil . I t i s highl y recommende d
tha t yo u us e Genuin e Hond a Moto r
Oi l i n you r vehicl e fo r a s lon g a s yo u
ow n it .
Yo u ca n determin e a n oil' s SA E
viscosit y an d Servic e Classificatio n
fro m th e AP I Servic e labe l o n th e oi l
container .
A fuel-efficien t oi l i s recommende d
fo r you r Honda . Thi s is show n o n th e
AP I Servic e labe l b y th e word s
"Energ y Conserving. " Thi s oi l i s
formulate d t o hel p you r engin e us e
les s fuel . Th
e AP I Servic e labe l als o tell s yo u
th e servic e classificatio n o f th e oil .
Alway s us e a n oi l tha t i s labele d "AP I

Servic e SJ. " Thi s servic e ratin g ma y

includ e othe r classifications , suc h a s

CD . Thes e additiona l classification s

ar e no t a problem , a s lon g a s th e

labe l als o carrie s th e S J classification .

AP I SERVIC E LABE L

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

ENGIN
E OI L
FIL L CA P

Engin
e Oi l

Th e oi l containe r ma y als o displa y
th e AP I Certificatio n seal . Mak e sur e
i t say s "Fo r Gasolin e Engines. "

AP I CERTIFICATIO N SEA L
Th
e SA E number s tel l yo u th e oil' s
viscosit y o r weight . Selec t th e oi l fo r
you r car accordin g t o thi s chart .

A n oi l wit h a viscosit y o f 5W-3 0 is
preferre d fo r improve d fue l econom y
an d year-roun d protectio n in you r
Honda . Yo u ma y us e a 10W-3 0 oi l i f
th e temperatur e in you r are a neve r
goe s belo w 20°F( — 7°C) .
Syntheti
c Oi l
Yo u ma y us e a syntheti c moto r oi l i f
i t meet s th e sam e requirement s
give n fo r conventiona l moto r oil :
energ y conserving , a servic e
classificatio n o f SJ , an d th e prope r
weigh t a s show n o n th e chart . Whe n
usin g syntheti c oil , yo u mus t follo w
th e oi l an d filte r chang e interval s
give n in th e maintenanc e schedule .
Additive s
You r Hond a doe s no t nee d an y oi l
additives . Purchasin g additive s fo r
th e engin e o r transmissio n wil l no t
increas e you r car' s performanc e o r
longevity . I t onl y increase s th e cos t
o f operatin g you r car .
Maintenanc e Ambien
t Temperatur e

Engin
e Oi l

5 . Pu t a ne w washe r o n th e drai n bolt ,
the n reinstal l th e drai n bolt .
Tighte n it to :

(U.S. : DX , D X Valu e Package , LX ,

Canada : LX , SE , EX )

3 3 lbf·f t (4 4 N·m , 4. 5 kgf·m )

(U.S. : EX )

2 9 Ibf·f t (3 9 N· m , 4. 0 kgf·m )
6 . Refil l th e engin e wit h th e recom -

mende d oil .

Engin e oi l chang e capacit y

(includin g filter) :

(U.S. : DX , D X Valu e Package , LX ,

Canada : LX , SE , EX )
3.
8 U S q t (3. 6 , 3.2 Im p qt )

(U.S. : EX )
3.
5 U S q t (3. 3 , 2.9 Im p qt )
7
. Replac e th e engin e oi l fil l cap .
Star t th e engine . Th e oi l pressur e
indicato r ligh t shoul d g o ou t withi n
fiv e seconds . I f i t doe s not , tur n of f
th e engin e an d reinspec t you r
work .
8 . Le t th e engin e ru n fo r severa l
minute s an d chec k th e drai n bol t
an d oi l filte r fo r leaks .
9 . Tur n of f th e engine , le t i t si t fo r
severa l minutes , the n chec k th e oi l
level . I f necessary , ad d oi l t o brin g
th e leve l t o th e uppe r mar k o n th e

dipstick .
Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmful to the environment. If you
change your own oil, please dispose ofthe used oil properly. Put it in a sealed
container and take it to a recycling center. Do not discard it in a trash bin
or dump it on the ground.

Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E

Light
s

Replacin g a Headligh t Bul b
You r ca r ha s haloge n headligh t
bulbs , on e o n eac h side . Whe n
replacin g a bulb , handl e it b y it s stee l
bas e an d protec t th e glas s fro m
contac t wit h you r ski n o r har d
objects . I f yo u touc h th e glass , clea n
i t wit h denature d alcoho l an d a clea n

cloth .

Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to

overheat and shatter.
1
. Ope n th e hood .
I f yo u nee d to chang e th e head -
ligh t bul b o n th e driver' s side ,
remov e th e powe r steerin g
reservoi r tan k b y pullin g it ou t o f
it s holder .
2
. Remov e th e electrica l connecto r

fro m th e bul b b y squeezin g th e
connecto r o n bot h side s to unloc k
th e tab . Pul l th e connecto r straigh t
off .
Maintenanc e
HOLDE
R
WEATHE
R SEA L
BUL
B

CONNECTO R
HOLD-DOW
N WIR E

NOTIC
E

Lo
w Oi l Pressur e Indicato r

LO W OI L PRESSUR E INDICATO R
Thi s indicato r shoul d ligh t whe n th e
ignitio n switc h is O N (II) , an d g o ou t
afte r th e engin e starts . I t shoul d
neve r com e o n whe n th e engin e is
running . I f i t start s flashing , i t
indicate s tha t th e oi l pressur e
droppe d ver y lo w fo r a moment , the n
recovered . I f th e indicato r stay s o n
wit h th e engin e running , i t show s
tha t th e engin e ha s los t oi l pressur e
an d seriou s engin e damag e is
possible . I n eithe r case , yo u shoul d
tak e immediat e action .
Running the engine with low oil

pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get

the car stopped.

1 . Safel y pul l of f th e roa d an d shu t
of f th e engine . Tur n o n th e hazar d
warnin g indicators .
2 . Le t th e ca r si t fo r a minute . Ope n
th e hoo d an d chec k th e oi l leve l
(se e pag e 146 ). Althoug h oi l leve l
an d oi l pressur e ar e no t directl y
connected , a n engin e tha t i s ver y
lo w o n oi l ca n los e pressur e durin g
cornerin g an d othe r drivin g

maneuvers .

3 . I f necessary , ad d oi l t o brin g th e
leve l bac k t o th e ful l mar k o n th e
dipstic k (se e pag e 187 ). 4
. Star t th e engin e an d watc h th e oi l
pressur e indicator . I f th e ligh t
doe s no t g o ou t withi n te n seconds ,
tur n of f th e engine . Ther e is a
mechanica l proble m tha t need s t o
b e repaire d befor e yo u ca n
continu e driving . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 25 9 .)

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E