2000 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN Hazard

Drivin
g in Ba d Weather , Towin g a Traile r

Tractio n — Chec k you r tire s
frequentl y fo r wea r an d prope r
pressure . Bot h ar e importan t i n
preventin g "hydroplaning " (los s o f
tractio n o n a we t surface) . I n th e
winter , moun t sno w tire s o n al l fou r
wheel s fo r th e bes t handling .
Watc h roa d condition s carefully ,
the y ca n chang e fro m momen t t o
moment . We t leave s ca n b e a s slip -
per y a s ice . "Clear " road s ca n hav e
patche s o f ice . Drivin g condition s
ca n b e ver y hazardou s whe n th e
outsid e temperatur e is nea r freezing .
Th e roa d surfac e ca n becom e
covere d wit h area s o f wate r puddle s
mixe d wit h area s o f ice , s o you r
tractio n ca n chang e withou t warning .
B e carefu l whe n downshifting . I f
tractio n is low , yo u ca n loc k u p th e
driv e wheel s fo r a momen t an d caus e

a skid .
B
e ver y cautiou s whe n passing , o r
bein g passe d b y othe r vehicles . Th e
spra y fro m large vehicle s reduce s
you r visibility , an d th e win d buffetin g
ca n caus e yo u to los e control .
Towin
g a Traile r

You r vehicl e is no t designe d to to w a
trailer . Attemptin g to d o s o ca n voi d
you r warranties .

Driving

Maintenanc
e Safet y

Importan t Safet y Precaution s
Befor e yo u begi n an y maintenance ,
mak e sur e you r ca r i s parke d o n
leve l groun d an d tha t th e parkin g
brak e is set . Also , b e sur e th e engin e
i s off . Thi s wil l hel p t o eliminat e
severa l potentia l hazards :
Carbo n monoxid e poisonin g
fro m engin e exhaust . B e sur e
ther e is adequat e ventilatio n
wheneve r yo u operat e th e engine .
Burns from ho t parts . Le t th e

engin e an d
exhaus
t syste m coo l
befor e touchin g an y parts .

Injury from moving parts. Do

no t ru n
th
e engin e unles s in -
structe d to d o so . Rea
d th e instruction s befor e yo u
begin , an d mak e sur e yo u hav e th e
tool s an d skill s required .
T o reduc e th e possibilit y o f fir e o r
explosion , b e carefu l whe n workin g
aroun d gasolin e o r batteries . Us e a
commerciall y availabl e degrease r o r
part s cleaner , no t gasoline , t o clea n
parts . Kee p cigarettes , sparks , an d
flame s awa y fro m th e batter y an d al l
fuel-relate d parts .
Yo u shoul d wea r ey e protectio n an d
protectiv e clothin g whe n workin g
nea r th e batter y o r whe n usin g
compresse d air .
Maintenance

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 .

Brak
e Syste m Indicato r

BRAK E SYSTE M INDICATOR *
"U.S . indicato r show n
Th e Brak e Syste m indicato r ligh t
shoul d normall y com e o n onl y whe n
th e parkin g brak e is no t full y

released .

I f i t come s o n a t an y othe r time , i t
indicate s a proble m wit h th e car' s
brak e system . I n mos t cases , th e
proble m is a lo w flui d leve l i n th e
brak e flui d reservoir . Pres s lightl y o n
th e brak e peda l t o se e if i t feel s
normal . I f i t does , chec k th e brak e
flui d leve l th e nex t tim e yo u sto p a t a servic
e statio n (se e pag e 19 8 ) . I f th e
flui d leve l i s low , tak e th e ca r t o you r
deale r an d hav e th e brak e syste m
inspecte d fo r leak s o r wor n brak e

pads .

However , i f th e brak e peda l doe s no t
fee l normal , yo u shoul d tak e
immediat e action . Becaus e o f th e
brak e system' s dual-circui t design , a
proble m in on e par t o f th e syste m
wil l stil l giv e yo u brakin g a t tw o
wheels . Yo u wil l fee l th e brak e peda l
g o dow n muc h farthe r befor e th e ca r
begin s t o slo w down , an d yo u wil l
hav e t o pres s harde r o n th e pedal .
Th e distanc e neede d t o sto p wil l b e
muc h longer .
Slo w dow n b y shiftin g to a lowe r
gear , an d pul l t o th e sid e o f th e roa d
whe n it i s safe . Becaus e o f th e
longe r distanc e neede d t o stop , i t i s
hazardou s t o driv e th e car . Yo u
shoul d hav e it towed , an d repaire d a s
soo n a s possible . (Se e Emergenc yTowin
g o n pag e 25 9 .)
I f yo u mus t driv e th e ca r a shor t
distanc e in thi s condition , driv e
slowl y an d cautiously .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Inde
x

Belts , Seat.................................... . 8 , 4 2
Beverag e Holder............................. . 8 6
Bod y Repairs................................. . 23 6

Brake s

Anti-loc k Syste m (ABS)........... . 16 7
Break-in , Ne w Lining s ............. . 14 2

Fluid........................................... . 19 8

Light , Burned-out..................... . 22 3

Parking......................................... . 8 5

Syste m Indicator................. . 55 , 25 2
Wea r Indicators........................ . 16 6
Brakes , AB S
Operation................................... . 16 7
Syste m Indicator................. .55, 16 9
Brakin g System............................. . 16 6
Break-in , Ne w Car........................ . 14 2
Brightnes s Control , Instruments.. . 6 2
Brights , Headlights........................ . 6 1
Bul b Replacemen t
Back-u p Lights.......................... . 22 4
Brak e Lights.............................. . 22 3
Ceilin g Light.............................. . 22 7
Fron t Parkin g Lights................ . 22 1
Fron t Sid e Marke r Lights........ . 22 1
Headlights................................. . 22 0
High-moun t Brak e Light......... . 22 5 Licens
e Plat e Lights................. . 22 6

Rea r Sid e Marke r Lights......... . 22 3

Specifications............................ . 26 5
Spotlights................................... . 22 7

Trun k Light............................... . 22 8

Tur n Signa l Lights.................... . 22 1
Bulbs , Halogen.............................. . 22 0

Cables , Jum p Startin g With......... . 24 6

Capacitie s Chart............................ . 26 4

Carbo n Monoxid e Hazard............. . 4 9

Carryin g Cargo............................. . 15 1

Cassett e Playe r

Care............................................ . 13 8

Operation................... .
102, 113, 135

CAUTION , Explanatio n
of..............
. i i
C D Changer.................. .104 , 117 , 13 1

C D Player...................... .104 , 117 ,

129

Ceilin g Light.................................... .
8
8
Certificatio n Label........................ . 26 2

Chains............................................ . 21 7

Chang e Oi l

Ho w to........................................ . 18 9

Whe n to...................................... . 17 8
Changin
g a Fla t Tire.................... . 23 9
Changin g Engin e Coolant............ . 19 3
Chargin g Syste m Indicato r ... . 55 , 25 0

Checkin g

Automati c Transmissio n

Fluid....................................... . 19 7

Batter y Condition..................... . 20 5

Brak e Fluid................................ . 19 8

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

Driv e Belts................................. . 21 0
Engin e Coolant.......................... . 14 7

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

Fuses.......................................... . 25 5
Manua l Transmissio n Fluid.... . 19 8
Powe r Steerin g Fluid................ . 20 0
Checklist , Befor e Driving............ . 15 6
Chil d Safety..................................... . 2 1
Childproo f Doo r Locks.................. . 7 5
Cleane r Element , Air.................... . 20 1

Cleanin g

Exterior...................................... . 23 2
Interior....................................... . 23 4
Sea t Belts................................... . 23 4

Vinyl........................................... . 23 4

Windows.................................... . 23 5
Clock , Settin g the......... . 101 , 112 , 12 6