
2000 Civic Sedan
 Online Reference Owner's Manual 
 Contents 
 
Introduction  ........................................................................\
.................................................................  i 
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii 
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.  
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.  
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... . 89
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features. 
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................141
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.  
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .155
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer. 
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................173
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer. 
Appearance Care........................................................................\
..................................................... .231
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
 vehicle ever needs body repairs.  
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................237
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them. 
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ .261
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information. 
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................273
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.  
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................279
How to order manuals and other technical literature.  
Index........................................................................\
.............................................................................. I 
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump. Service Information Summary Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
 this reference.   
 For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.\
helminc.com.  If you have a Civic refer to Civic Sedan GX Owner’s Manual Supplement
 for additional information.   
Owner's Identification Form 

Owner's  Identification
This Owner's  Manual  should  be considereda  permanent  part of the  car,  and  should
remain with the car when it i
s sold.
The  information  and  specifications  included in  this  publication  were  in  affect  at  the  time
of approval for  printing.  Honda  Motor Co., Ltd.  reserves the  right,  however, to
discontinue  or change  specifications  or
design  at any time without notice  and
with out  incurring  any obligation whatsoever.
OWNER
ADDRESSSTREET
CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE  /POSTAL  CODE
V.  I.  N.
DELIVERY DATE(Date  sold  to  original  retail  purchaser)
DEALER NAME DEALER  NO.
ADDRESSSTREET
CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/
POSTAL  CODEOWNER'S SIGNATURE
DEALER'S   SIGNATURE 

Moonroof
, Mirror s
Moonroo f
On U.S. EX model
Us e th e switche s o n th e dashboar d
unde r th e lef t ven t t o  operat e th e
moonroof . Th e ignitio n mus t b e O N
(II) .
T o lif t th e  rea r  o f th e  moonroo f fo r ventilation
, pus h th e  button .
T o  slid e th e  moonroo f back ,  pus h th
e  switch .  Hol d i t unti l th e
moonroo f  reache s  th e  desire d
position , the n releas e th e switch . T
o clos e th e moonroof ,  pres s  an d hol
d th e  switch .
If you try to open the moonroof in
 below-freezing temperatures, or when
it is covered with snow or ice, you can
damage the moonroof panel or motor.
 Mirror
s
Kee p th e insid e an d outsid e mirror s
clea n an d adjuste d fo r bes t visibility .
B e  sur e t o adjus t th e mirror s befor e
yo u  star t driving .
Th e insid e mirro r ha s  da y an d nigh t
positions . Th e nigh t positio n reduce s
glar e fro m headlight s behin d you .
Fli p th e ta b o n th e botto m edg e o f
th e mirro r t o  selec t th e  da y o r nigh t
position .
CONTINUED
Instrument s an d Control s
NOTIC
E
Closin
g th e  moonroo f o n
someone' s hand s o r finger s ca n
caus e seriou s  injury .
Mak e sur e passenger s ar e
clea r o f th e  moonroo f befor e
closin g it .
TAB 

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Thi s sectio n cover s th e more -
commo n problem s tha t motorist s
experienc e wit h thei r vehicles . I t
give s yo u informatio n abou t ho w to
safel y evaluat e th e proble m an d wha t
t o  d o t o correc t it .  I f th e proble m ha s
strande d yo u o n th e sid e o f th e road ,
yo u ma y b e abl e t o ge t goin g again .
I f not , yo u wil l  als o fin d instruction s
o n gettin g you r ca r towed . Compac
t  Spar e Tire...................... .  23 8
Changin g a  Fla t Tire.................... .  23 9
I f You r  Engin e Won' t  Start.......... .  24 4
Nothin g  Happen s  o r  th e  Starte r
Moto r  Operate s  Ver y
Slowly..................................... .  24 4
Th e  Starte r  Operate s
Normally................................. 245
Jump   Starting................................ .  24 5
I f You r  Engin e  Overheats............ .  24 7
Lo w  Oi l  Pressur e  Indicator......... .  24 9
Chargin g  Syste m  Indicator.......... .  25 0
Malfunctio n  Indicato r Lam p  ....... .  25 1
Brak e  Syste m  Indicator............... .  25 2
Closin g  th e  Moonroof.................. .  25 3
Fuses.............................................. .  25 4
Checkin g  an d  Replacing.......... .  25 5
Emergenc y Towing...................... .  25 9
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d 

I
f  You r Engin e Won' t Star t
Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u tur n th e
ke y t o  STAR T (III) :
Yo u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly .
Yo u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e it i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . Nothin
g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
Whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h to
STAR T (III) , yo u d o no t hea r th e
norma l nois e o f th e engin e tryin g to
start . Yo u ma y hea r a  clickin g soun d
o r serie s o f clicks , o r nothin g a t all .
Chec k thes e things :
Chec k th e transmissio n interlock .
I f yo u hav e a  manua l transmission ,
th e clutc h peda l mus t b e pushe d
al l th e wa y t o  th e floo r o r th e
starte r wil l no t operate . Wit h a n
automati c transmission , i t mus t b e
i n  Par k o r Neutral .
Tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o O N  (II) .
Tur n o n th e headlight s an d chec k
thei r brightness . I f th e headlight s
ar e ver y di m o r don' t ligh t a t all ,
th e batter y is  discharged .  Se e
Jum p Startin g o n pag e 24 5 .
 Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o STAR T
(III) . I f th e headlight s d o no t dim ,
chec k th e conditio n o f th e fuses . I f
th e fuse s ar e OK , ther e is  proba -
bl y somethin g wron g wit h th e
electrica l circui t fo r th e ignitio n
switc h o r starte r motor . Yo u wil l
nee d a  qualifie d technicia n to
determin e th e problem .  (Se e
Emergenc y Towin g o n pag e 259 .)
I f th e headlight s di m noticeabl y o r
g o ou t whe n yo u tr y t o  star t th e
engine , eithe r th e batter y is  dis -
charge d o r th e connection s ar e
corroded . Chec k th e conditio n o f
th e batter y an d termina l connec -
tion s  (se e pag e 205 ). Yo u ca n
the n tr y jum p startin g th e ca r fro m
a  booste r batter y  (se e pag e 245 ).
Takin g  Car e  o f th e  Unexpecte d 

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