2000 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN fuel

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

Windshiel
d Washer s

Chec k th e leve l i n th e windshiel d
washe r reservoi r a t leas t monthl y
durin g norma l usage . I n ba d weather ,
whe n yo u us e th e washer s often ,
chec k th e leve l ever y tim e yo u sto p

fo r fuel .

Th e windshiel d washe r reservoi r i s
locate d behin d th e driver' s sid e
headlight . Chec k th e reservoir' s flui d
leve l b y removin g th e ca p an d
lookin g a t th e leve l gaug e attache d
t o th e cap .

On Canadian models
Th e lo w washe r leve l indicato r wil l
ligh t whe n th e leve l i s lo w (se e pag e

56 ).
Fil
l th e reservoi r wit h a good-qualit y
windshiel d washe r fluid . Thi s
increase s th e cleanin g capabilit y an d
prevent s freezin g i n col d weather .Whe
n yo u refil l th e reservoir , clea n
th e edge s o f th e windshiel d wipe r
blade s wit h windshiel d washe r flui d
o n a clea n cloth . Thi s wil l hel p to
conditio n th e blad e edges .

Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your car's paint, while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

Maintenanc e
LEVE
L GAUG E

NOTICE

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Start , Jum p Startin g
Th e Starte r Operate s Normall y
I n thi s case , th e starte r motor' s
spee d sound s normal , o r eve n faste r
tha n normal , whe n yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o STAR T (III) , bu t
th e engin e doe s no t run . Ar
e yo u usin g th e prope r startin g
procedure ? Refe r t o Startin g th e
Engin e o n pag e 157 . D
o yo u hav e fuel ? Tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o O N (II ) fo r a
minut e an d watc h th e fue l gauge .
Th e lo w fue l leve l warnin g ligh t
ma y no t b e working , s o yo u wer e
no t reminde d t o fil l th e tank . Ther
e ma y b e a n electrica l
problem , suc h a s n o powe r t o th e
fue l pump . Chec k al l th e fuse s
(se e pag e 255 ).
I f yo u fin d nothin g wrong , yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to fin d
th e problem . Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 25 9 . Jum
p Startin g
I f you r car' s batter y ha s ru n down ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to star t th e engin e
b y usin g a booste r battery . Althoug h
thi s seem s lik e a simpl e procedure ,
yo u shoul d tak e severa l precautions .
Yo u canno t star t a Hond a wit h a n
automati c transmissio n b y pushin g
o r pullin g it . T
o jum p star t you r car , follo w thes e
direction s closely :
1 . Ope n th e hoo d an d chec k th e
physica l conditio n o f th e batter y
(se e pag e 205 ). I n ver y col d
weather , chec k th e conditio n o f
th e electrolyte . I f i t seem s slush y
o r lik e ice , d o no t tr y jum p startin g
unti l i t thaws .

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze.

Attempting to jump start with a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

2. Tur n of f al l th e electrica l acces -
sories : heater , A/C , stere o system ,
lights , etc .

Pu t th e transmissio n in Neutra l o r

Par k an d se t th e parkin g brake .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

A
batter y ca n explod e i f yo u d o

no t follo w th e correc t procedure ,
seriousl y injurin g anyon e
nearby .
Kee p ai l sparks , ope n flames ,
an d smokin g material s awa y
fro m th e battery .
NOTIC
E

Malfunctio
n Indicato r Lam p

MALFUNCTIO N INDICATO R LAM P

Thi s indicato r 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) . I f i t come s o n a t an y

othe r time , i t indicate s on e o f th e

engine' s emission s contro l system s

ma y hav e a problem . Eve n thoug h

yo u ma y fee l n o differenc e in you r

car' s performance , i t ca n reduc e

you r fue l econom y an d caus e you r

ca r t o pu t ou t excessiv e emissions .

Continue d operatio n ma y caus e

seriou s damage .
I
f yo u hav e recentl y refuele d you r
car , th e caus e o f thi s indicato r
comin g o n coul d b e a loos e o r
missin g fue l fil l cap . Chec k th e ca p
an d tighte n it unti l i t click s severa l
times . Replac e th e fue l fil l ca p if i t i s
missing . Tightenin g th e ca p wil l no t
mak e th e indicato r tur n of f
immediately ; i t take s thre e drivin g

trips .

I f th e indicato r remain s o n pas t thre e
drivin g trips , o r th e fue l ca p wa s no t
loos e o r missing , hav e th e ca r
checke d b y th e deale r a s soo n a s
possible . Driv e moderatel y unti l th e
deale r ha s inspecte d th e problem .
Avoi d full-throttl e acceleratio n an d
drivin g a t hig h speed .
Yo u shoul d als o hav e th e deale r
inspec t you r ca r i f thi s indicato r
come s o n repeatedly , eve n thoug h it
ma y tur n of f a s yo u continu e driving .If you keep driving with the
malfunction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car's emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your car's warranties.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E

Technica
l Informatio n

Th e diagram s i n thi s sectio n giv e
yo u th e dimension s an d capacitie s o f
you r Honda , an d th e location s o f th e
identificatio n numbers . Th e expla -
nation s o f severa l electroni c an d
mechanica l system s o n you r Hond a
ar e fo r th e mor e technically-oriente d
owner . Identificatio
n Numbers................ . 26 2
Specifications................................ . 26 4
DO T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g
(U.S . Cars).............................. 266
Treadwear................................. . 26 6
Traction...................................... . 26 6
Temperature............................. . 26 7
Oxygenate d Fuels......................... . 26 8
Drivin g in Foreig n Countries...... . 26 9 Emission
s Controls....................... . 27 0
Th e Clea n Ai r Act..................... . 27 0
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l
System.................................... . 27 0
Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l

System..................................... 270

Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recovery................................ . 27 0
Exhaus t Emission s Controls... . 27 1
PGM-F I System.................... . 27 1
Ignitio n Timin g Contro l

System................................. 271

Thre e Wa y Catalyti c
Converter........................... . 27 1
Replacemen t Parts.................... . 27 1
Thre e Wa y Catalyti c Converter.. . 27 2

Technica l Informatio n

Oxygenate
d Fuel s

Som e conventiona l gasoline s ar e
bein g blende d wit h alcoho l o r a n
ethe r compound . Thes e gasoline s
ar e collectivel y referre d t o a s
oxygenate d fuels . T o mee t clea n ai r
standards , som e area s o f th e Unite d
State s an d Canad a us e oxygenate d
fuel s t o hel p reduc e emissions .
I f yo u us e a n oxygenate d fuel , b e
sur e it i s unleade d an d meet s th e
minimu m octan e ratin g requirement .
Befor e usin g a n oxygenate d fuel , tr y
t o confir m th e fuel' s contents . Som e
states/province s requir e thi s
informatio n to b e poste d o n th e
pump .
Th e followin g ar e th e U.S . EP A an d
Canadia n CGS B approve d
percentage s o f oxygenates :
ETHANO L (ethy l o r grai n alcohol )
Yo u ma y us e gasolin e containin g u p
t o 1 0 percen t ethano l b y volume . Gasolin
e containin g ethano l ma y b e
markete d unde r th e nam e "Gasohol. '
MTB E (Methy l Tertiar y Buty l

Ether )

Yo u ma y us e gasolin e containin g u p
t o 1 5 percen t MTB E b y volume .
METHANO L (methy l o r woo d

alcohol )

You r vehicl e wa s no t designe d t o
us e fuel that contain s methanol .
Methano l ca n corrod e meta l part s i n
th e fue l system , an d als o damag e
plasti c an d rubbe r components . Thi s
damag e woul d no t b e covere d b y
you r warranties . I
f yo u notic e an y undesirabl e
operatin g symptoms , tr y anothe r
servic e statio n o r switc h t o anothe r
bran d o f gasoline .
Fue l syste m damag e o r performanc e
problem s resultin g fro m th e us e o f
a n oxygenate d fue l containin g mor e
tha n th e percentage s o f oxygenate s
give n abov e ar e no t covere d unde r
warranty .

Technica l Informatio n

Emission
s Control s

Th e burnin g o f gasolin e i n you r car' s
engin e produce s severa l byproducts .
Som e o f these are carbo n monoxid e
(CO) , oxide s o f nitroge n (NOx ) an d
hydrocarbon s (HC) . Gasolin e
evaporatin g fro m th e tan k als o
produce s hydrocarbons . Controllin g
th e productio n o f NOx , CO , an d H C
i s importan t t o th e environment .
Unde r certai n condition s o f sunligh t
an d climate , NO x an d H C reac t t o
for m photochemica l "smog. " Carbo n
monoxid e doe s no t contribut e t o
smo g creation , bu t i t i s a poisonou s

gas .
Th
e Clea n Ai r Ac t
Th e Unite d State s Clea n Ai r Act *
set s standard s fo r automobil e
emissions . I t als o require s tha t
automobil e manufacturer s explai n t o
owner s ho w thei r emission s control s
wor k an d wha t t o d o t o maintai n
them . Thi s sectio n summarize s ho w
th e emission s control s work .
Schedule d maintenanc e is o n pag e
178 .
* I n Canada , Hond a vehicle s compl y
wit h th e Canadia n Moto r Vehicl e
Safet y Standard s (CMVSS ) fo r
Emission s vali d a t th e tim e the y ar e
manufactured .
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l

Syste m

You r ca r ha s a Positiv e Crankcas e
Ventilatio n System . Thi s keep s
gasse s tha t buil d u p in th e engine' s
crankcas e fro m goin g int o th e
atmosphere . Th e Positiv e Crankcas e
Ventilatio n valv e route s the m fro m th
e crankcas e bac k t o th e intak e
manifold . The y ar e the n draw n int o
th e engin e an d burned .
Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l
Syste m
A s gasolin e evaporate s i n th e fue l
tank , a n evaporativ e emission s
contro l caniste r fille d wit h charcoa l
adsorb s th e vapor . I t i s store d in thi s
caniste r whil e th e engin e is off . Afte r
th e engin e is starte d an d warme d up ,
th e vapo r i s draw n int o th e engin e
an d burne d durin g driving .
Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recover y
Th e Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recover y (ORVR ) syste m capture s
th e fue l vapor s durin g refueling . Th e
vapor s ar e adsorbe d in a caniste r
fille d wit h activate d carbon . Whil e
driving , th e fue l vapor s ar e draw n
int o th e engin e an d burne d off .

Technica l Informatio n

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