2001 HONDA CIVIC towing

µ
µ µ
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (f ront or rear) and lif t
them of f the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground.
If your car needs to be towed, call a
prof essional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.
There are three popular types of
prof essional towing equipment.
The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck. Release the parking brake.
Shif t the transmission to Neutral.
The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks
on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the f rame or suspension and
the cables lif t that end of the car of f
the ground. Your car’s suspension
and body can be seriously damaged.
If your Honda cannot be transported
by f lat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lif t equipment with the f ront
wheels of f the ground. If due to
damage, your car must be towed
with the f ront wheels on the ground,
do the f ollowing: Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
ShifttoD,thentoN.
Turn of f the engine.
5-speed Manual Transmission
Automatic Transmission
Wheel-lif t Equipment
Flat -bed Equipment Sling-t ype Equipment
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
Honda.
This is the best way to transport
your Honda.
T his method of towing is
unacceptable.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
286 Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine (automatic transmission), your
car must be transported with the f ront
wheels of f the ground.

If you decide to tow your car with all
f our wheels on the ground, make
sure you use a properly-designed and
attached tow bar. Prepare the car for
towing as described above, and leave
the ignition switch in Accessory (I)
so the steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
plugged into the accessory power
socket are turned of f so they do not
rundownthebattery.
With the f ront wheels on the ground,
it is best to tow the car no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the
speedbelow35mph(55km/h).
If your car is equipped with a f ront
spoiler, remove it bef ore towing so it
is not damaged.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
287
Trying to lif t or tow your car by the
bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to
support the car’s weight.
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
f reely bef ore you begin towing.

CONT INUED
...........................................
Driving . 173
....................................
Economy . 166
.........................
In Bad Weather . 188
................
In Foreign Countries . 297
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 257
...................................
Fan, Interior . 106
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience . 105
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 161
Filters
................................
Air Cleaner . 221
.......................
Air Conditioning . 231
...............................................
Oil . 207 5-speed Manual Transmission
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 217
................................
Shif ting the . 176
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 74
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 263
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 216
..........................................
Brake . 218
.........................................
Clutch . 219
..............
Manual Transmission . 217
..........................
Power Steering . 220
..................
Windshield Washer . 215
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 145
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 93
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 297
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 74
.................................................
Fuel . 160
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 161
...........................................
Gauge . 67
................
Octane Requirement . 160
...............................
Oxygenated . 296
........................
Reserve Indicator . 63
........................
Tank, Filling the . 161
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 282
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 166
............
Emergencies on the Road . 286
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 270
...........
Brake System Indicator . 279
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 263
.....
Charging System Indicator . 276
..................
Checking the Fuses . 282
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 275
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 277
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 279
..................
Overheated Engine . 272
...........................
Emergency Brake . 99
......................
Emergency Flashers . 74
......................
Emergency Towing . 286
.......................
Emissions Controls . 298
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 301Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 68
.................................
Drive Belts . 233 Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 63, 277
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 62, 275
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 205
...............................
Overheating . 272
............................
Specif ications . 292
.......................................
Starting . 175
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 177, 181
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 296
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 298
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 54
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 254
Index
E
F
III

Î
.....................
Underside, Cleaning . 259
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the . 261
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 294
........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 160
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning . 256
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 208
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 170 ......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 292
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 290
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 251
.....................................
Ventilation . 108
.................................................
VIN . 290
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning . 257
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 206
..........
Time, Setting the . 119, 131, 143
....................................
Timing Belt . 233
....................................
Tire Chains . 240
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 263
...............................................
Tires . 234
..............................
Air Pressure . 234
.........................
Checking Wear . 236
..........................
Compact Spare . 262
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 294
......................................
Inf lation . 234
..................................
Inspection . 236
..............................
Maintenance . 236
...................................
Replacing . 238
......................................
Rotating . 237
...........................................
Snow . 239
............................
Specif ications . 293
.......................
Traction Devices . 240
..................
Technical Inf ormation . 289
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 263
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 189
................
Emergency Wrecker . 286
...........................
Traction Devices . 240
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic . 216 Checking Fluid Level,
...................................
Manual . 217
..................
Fluid Selection . 216, 217
..............
Identif ication Number . 291
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 179
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 176
.....................................
Treadwear . 236
.......................................
Trip Meter . 67
................................................
Trunk . 88
........................................
Opening . 88
...................
Open Monitor Light . 63
....................................
Turn Signals . 72 .............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 55
..................
Warranty Coverages . 307
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level . 215
.......................................
Indicator . 63
.....................................
Operation . 73
.........................................
Washing . 254
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 255
Wheels
...............
Adjusting the Steering . 75
............
Alignment and Balance . 236
..........................
Compact Spare . 262
......................................
Wrench . 263
Windows .....................................
Cleaning . 258
Index
U V W
VIII

Î..................
Operating the Power . 95
...........................
Rear, Def ogger . 74
Windshield
.......................................
Cleaning . 72
...................................
Def roster . 111
.......................................
Washers . 73
Wipers, Windshield
.......................
Changing Blades . 228
.....................................
Operation . 72
....................................
Worn Tires . 236
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 286
: U.S. and Canada only
Index
IX